Oral hypoglycemic agents
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents
Oral hypoglycemic agents (pronunciation: /ˈɔːrəl/ /ˌhaɪpoʊɡlaɪˈsiːmɪk/ /ˈeɪdʒənts/) are a class of medications that are used to manage blood sugar levels in individuals with diabetes mellitus. The term "oral hypoglycemic agents" is derived from the Greek words "hypo" (meaning "under"), "glykys" (meaning "sweet"), and "haima" (meaning "blood").
Types of Oral Hypoglycemic Agents
There are several types of oral hypoglycemic agents, each working in a different way to lower blood glucose levels. These include:
- Sulfonylureas: These stimulate the beta cells of the pancreas to release more insulin.
- Biguanides: The most common of which is metformin, reduces the amount of glucose produced by the liver.
- Thiazolidinediones: These make the body's cells more sensitive to insulin.
- DPP-4 Inhibitors: These block the action of an enzyme called DPP-4, which destroys the hormone incretin.
- SGLT2 Inhibitors: These prevent the kidneys from reabsorbing glucose into the blood.
Side Effects
Like all medications, oral hypoglycemic agents can have side effects. These can include hypoglycemia, gastrointestinal problems, and weight gain. It's important to discuss these potential side effects with a healthcare provider before starting any new medication.
See Also
References
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Oral hypoglycemic agents
- Wikipedia's article - Oral hypoglycemic agents
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski