Anti-diabetic

Anti-diabetic

Anti-diabetic (pronunciation: an-tee-die-uh-bet-ik) refers to any substance or measure that prevents or reduces the severity of diabetes. The term is derived from the Greek words 'anti' meaning against, and 'diabetes' which refers to a group of metabolic disorders characterized by high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period.

Types of Anti-diabetic

There are several types of anti-diabetic drugs, and their selection depends on the nature of the diabetes, age and situation of the person, as well as other factors.

• Insulin: This is a hormone that regulates the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and protein by promoting the absorption of glucose from the blood into liver, fat and skeletal muscle cells. In these tissues the absorbed glucose is converted into either glycogen via glycogenesis or fats (triglycerides) via lipogenesis, or, in the case of the liver, into both.

• Sulfonylureas: These are a class of organic compounds used in medicine and agriculture. They are antidiabetic drugs widely used in the management of diabetes mellitus type 2.

• Biguanides: This is a class of medications used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The most well-known biguanide is perhaps Metformin.

• Thiazolidinediones: These are a class of medications used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. They were introduced in the late 1990s.

• Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors: These are a class of oral hypoglycemics that block DPP-4. They can be used to treat diabetes mellitus type 2.

• Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists: These are a class of medications used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. They have been developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Related Terms

• Hyperglycemia
• Hypoglycemia
• Insulin resistance
• Metabolic syndrome
• Glycemic index
• Glycemic load

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