Medications Affecting the Endocrine System

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to medications affecting the endocrine system, focusing on diabetes mellitus, insulin medications, and other endocrine treatments.

Diabetes Mellitus

A chronic illness where the body does not make enough insulin or does not respond properly, causing high blood glucose levels.

Insulin Administration

The five rights of medication administration include the right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, and right time.

Rapid Acting Insulin

Insulin that has an onset of 15 to 30 minutes, peak of 0.5 to 3 hours, and duration of 3 to 5 hours. Example: Lispro.

Short Acting Insulin

Insulin with an onset of 0.5 to 1 hour, peak of 2 to 4 hours, and duration of 4 to 12 hours. Example: Regular insulin.

Intermediate Acting Insulin

Insulin with an onset of 1 to 2 hours, peak of 4 to 14 hours, and duration of 14 to 24 hours. Example: NPH.

Long Acting Insulin

Insulin with an onset of 2 to 4 hours, minimal peak, and duration of up to 24 hours. Example: Glargine U-100.

Hypoglycemia

Condition with blood glucose below 70 mg/dL, causes include too much insulin or not enough food.

Sulfonylureas

Oral antidiabetics that increase insulin release from the pancreas, associated with a risk for hypoglycemia.

Biguanides

Class of oral antidiabetics with Metformin as the prototype, decreases glucose production in the liver.

Thiazolidinediones

Class of oral antidiabetics that increase insulin sensitivity, associated with fluid retention and heart failure.

DPP-4 Inhibitors

Medications that increase insulin and decrease glucagon, usually well tolerated.

SGLT-2 Inhibitors

Medications that promote glucose excretion in urine, associated with UTIs and dehydration.

Amylin Mimetics

Oral antidiabetics that slow gastric emptying and decrease glucagon.

Incretin Mimetics

Medications that increase insulin and decrease glucagon, associated with weight loss.

Hyperthyroidism

A condition characterized by excessive levels of thyroid hormones.

Levothyroxine

A prototype medication that replaces thyroid hormone to increase metabolism.

Hypoadrenalism

A condition of insufficient adrenal hormone production, treated with glucocorticoids.

Octreotide

A medication used to suppress growth hormone release and treat conditions like acromegaly.