Top 200 Drugs Section 4: Diabetes Agents

Type I

juvenile diabetes or insulin dependent diabetes

presents during childhood

caused by lack of insulin production

Type II

due to insulin resistance

More common than type I

presents later on in life

Cause of Type I diabetes

Exact cause is unknown, various believes it’s caused by genetics, environment, and exposure to viruses

Cause of Type II diabetes

Believed to be genetically linked, risk factors: hypertension, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and inactivity thought to contribute

Symptoms of diabetes

Increased thirst/urination, increased hunger, weight loss, fatigue/blurred vision, slow healing of wounds

Insulin therapy

Type I diabetes: requires immediate insulin because the issue is lack of production

Type II diabetes: often ends up on insulin but starts out w/ non-drug therapy and/or oral medications because the issue is resistance to insulin

Insulin types

Will cause effects at different times after injection as well as last different lengths of time

The time of effect will often dictate when the shot is given

Humalog

insulin lispro

Humulin N/Novolin N

insulin NPH

Humulin R/Novolin R

regular insulin

Lantus

insulin glargine

Biguanide

can be used in either type of diabetes but most commonly used for type II diabetes

decreases liver glucose production and increases sensitivity to insulin

Glucophage

metformin

Biguanide side effects

appetite loss, metallic taste in mouth, upset stomach, vomiting, weight loss, drowsiness

Sulfonylureas

stimulates release of insulin, increases glucose storage and utilization, which leads to decrease in blood sugar levels

Micronase/Diabeta

glyburide

Amaryl

glimepiride

Glucotrol

glipizide

Sulfonylureas side effects

hypoglycemia, weight gain, upset stomach, rash, blurred vision

Thiazolidinediones

decreases insulin resistance which increases insulin sensitivity and decreases liver glucose output resulting in a decrease in blood sugar levels

Actos

pioglitazone

Avandia

rosiglitazone

Thiazolidinedione side effects

fatigue, weight gain, swelling of face/extremities, trouble breathing, tooth disorder, inc in upper respiratory infections, headache

What is DPP-4

an enzyme that inactivates hormones called incretins in our body

DPP-4 inhibitor

Inhibits the enzyme that inactivates hormones called incretins in our body, leading to more incretins = lower glucose levels

Januvia

sitagliptin

DPP-4 inhibitor side effects

increase in upper respiratory infections, headache, hypoglycemia, loss of voice, sore throat, stuffy/runny nose, muscle aches

Glucovance

glyburide/metformin

Humulin 70/30

Insulin NPH and R (intermediate)