Pharmacology: Diabetes Management and Insulin Therapy

Vocabulary flashcards generated from lecture notes covering key diabetes concepts, insulin preparations, administrative rules, and oral antidiabetic drug classes.

Tight Glucose Control

The practice of keeping blood glucose within a safe, normal to slightly elevated range to avoid long-term complications of diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes

A form of diabetes where patients do not produce insulin; it is genetic, autoimmune, or induced, and is most commonly identified in childhood.

Type 2 Diabetes

A form of diabetes characterized by decreased tissue sensitivity to insulin and insulin resistance, heavily influenced by aging and lifestyle.

Insulin Resistance

A state in which the body's cells stop responding effectively to the insulin needed to utilize glucose.

Hemoglobin A1c

A lab measurement providing an estimated $3\text{-month}$ average blood glucose level, with a treatment target of less than $7\text{\%}$ for diabetic patients.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM)

A technology using arm-worn sensors (such as Dexcom) to estimate real-time glucose trends, peaks, and valleys.

Insulin Onset

The time frame following administration when insulin first begins to lower blood sugar.

Insulin Peak

The time point when insulin reaches its maximum concentration in the body, representing the period of highest risk for hypoglycemia.

Insulin Duration

The total length of time an administered dose of insulin continues to exert its blood glucose-lowering effects.

Lispro Insulin (Humalog)

A rapid-acting insulin given right before meals with an onset of $15\text{ minutes}$, peak of $30\text{ minutes}$, and duration of $2\text{ hours}$.

Regular Insulin

A short-duration, clear insulin with an onset of $60\text{ minutes}$, peak of $5\text{ hours}$, and duration up to $10\text{ hours}$; it is the only insulin type that can be administered IV.

NPH Insulin (Humulin N)

An intermediate-duration insulin with a cloudy suspension that onsets in $1\text{ to }2\text{ hours}$, peaks in $6\text{ to }8\text{ hours}$, and lasts up to $24\text{ hours}$.

Insulin Glargine (Lantus)

A long-duration basal insulin with an onset of about $1\text{ hour}$, no pronounced peak, and steady coverage over $24\text{ hours}$ given via sub Q route only.

Lipohypertrophy

Tissue hardening caused by repeatedly injecting subcutaneous insulin into the exact same location, resulting in unpredictable drug absorption.

Glucagon

A hormone medication administered sub Q, IM, or IV that treats hypoglycemia by stimulating the liver to release stored glucose.

Sulfonylureas

The oldest class of oral antidiabetic drugs (e.g., glipizide) that lowers blood sugar by stimulating the pancreas to release more insulin.

Meglitinides

Short-acting oral antidiabetic medications (e.g., repaglinide) taken with every meal that stimulate pancreatic insulin secretion.

Metformin (Glucophage)

A biguanide oral antidiabetic that decreases gut glucose absorption, inhibits liver glucose production, and increases insulin sensitivity; must be held $48\text{ hours}$ before and after contrast dye.

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs)

An oral antidiabetic class (e.g., pioglitazone) that enhances insulin sensitivity, but causes sodium and fluid retention, making it contraindicated in heart failure patients.

Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors

Oral antidiabetics (e.g., acarbose) that block carbohydrate breakdown in the gut; hypoglycemia caused while taking them must be treated with pure glucose, not oral sucrose.

SGLT2 Inhibitors

Antidiabetic drugs ending in '-flozin' (e.g., Jardiance) that block kidney glucose reabsorption, forcing excess glucose to be excreted in urine.

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists

Incretin mimetic medications (e.g., Byetta, Ozempic) that stimulate insulin release and slow gastric emptying.