Pharmacotherapy Affecting the Endocrine System

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and concepts related to pharmacotherapy affecting the endocrine system, particularly focusing on diabetes management and hormonal disorders.

Diabetes Mellitus

A chronic condition characterized by high blood sugar levels due to the body's inability to produce or use insulin effectively.

Normal Plasma Glucose Level

The recommended glucose level is 60-100 mg/dl when fasting for non-diabetic individuals.

Hypoglycemia

A condition that occurs when blood sugar levels fall below normal, often leading to symptoms such as dizziness, confusion, and fainting.

Cushing's Syndrome

A hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol, leading to symptoms such as weight gain and high blood pressure.

Insulin action times

Refers to the duration it takes for different types of insulin to take effect, peak, and wear off.

Lipohypertrophy

A condition where lumps of thickened fat develop under the skin at injection sites due to repeated insulin injections.

Biguanide

A class of drugs that reduce glucose production in the liver and improve insulin sensitivity.

Sulfonylureas

Medications that increase insulin secretion from the pancreas to lower blood sugar levels.

Thiazolidinediones

A class of drugs that increase insulin sensitivity and help lower blood sugar levels.

Exophthalmos

An abnormal protrusion of the eyeball, often associated with hyperthyroidism.

Hyperglycemia

An abnormally high blood sugar level, which can lead to serious complications if not managed properly.

Insulin Detemir

A long-acting insulin used to control blood sugar levels in individuals with diabetes.

Insulin Lispro

A rapid-acting insulin used to control blood sugar levels after meals.

DPP-4 inhibitors

A class of medications that increase insulin production and decrease glucagon levels in the blood.

GLP-1 agonists

Drugs that mimic the effects of the incretin hormone, increasing insulin release in response to meals.

SGLT2 inhibitors

Medications that promote glucose excretion through the kidneys to lower blood sugar levels.