India is the Diabetic Capital of the world! A survey reported that today, India has more than 50 million people with diabetes and millions of them die every year due to lack of awareness regarding the management and treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM).
Both lifestyle modifications and anti-diabetic drugs are equally important for the management of diabetes. Here we present one of the potent oral anti-diabetic medications used for the management of type 2 diabetes.
Glimepiride is the second line anti-diabetic drug for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Before going into detail about glimepiride, let us enlighten you in brief about DM.
So let’s get started.
Diabetes: What is it?
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder in which blood glucose/sugar level increases. Glucose is a vital nutrient required by the body for energy and proper functioning of other organs.
In diabetes mellitus, the beta cells of the pancreas are not able to produce insulin (a hormone that regulates the peripheral uptake of glucose) or the body is unable to utilize the insulin
Diabetes mellitus is classified into two types:
1. Type 1 diabetes: Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, a condition when the body is unable to produce insulin.
2. Type 2 diabetes: non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus occurs when the body produces less insulin or is unable to use insulin properly due to obesity (insulin resistance). It is the most common form of diabetes.
Anti-diabetic drugs are essential for the management of DM. One of the classes of anti-diabetic drugs is Sulfonylurea (SU).
Sulfonylurea (SU)
Sulfonylureas are widely prescribed as a second-line anti-diabetic drug for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Sulfonylureas are insulin secretagogues and act mainly by stimulating the release of insulin from pancreatic beta cells and also increasing the sensitivity of peripheral tissues to insulin. The most widely preferred sulfonylurea is glimepiride.
Glimepiride
Glimepiride is an insulin secretagogue, a long-acting second-generation sulfonylurea. After metformin, it is widely prescribed as an anti-diabetic drugs and used along with diet and exercise for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
As compared to other sulfonylureas, Glimepiride has a lower risk of hypoglycemia and weight gain.
How does Glimepiride work?
Glimepiride lowers blood glucose level by stimulating the release of insulin from pancreatic beta cells mainly by blocking ATP sensitive potassium channel.
It also increases the sensitivity of peripheral tissue to insulin.
Glimepiride can be used either as monotherapy or in combination with metformin, insulin and other oral hypoglycemic agents.
Side effects related to Glimepiride
USFDA approved it in 1995 as a safe and effective oral anti-diabetic drugs with a lower risk of hypoglycemia and weight gain.
But along with therapeutic efficacy, every drug has certain side effects, so does the glimepiride has. The most common side effects associated with glimepiride are nausea, dizziness, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain and discomfort.
Precautions
- Glimepiride is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation.
- Do not consume glimepiride without prescription.
- Before taking glimepiride, you must tell your doctor if you have : Liver disease, kidney disease, or thyroid disease.
- If you experience any allergic effect, consult your doctor immediately.
- Avoid the use of alcoholic beverages during glimepiride treatment, as it increases the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level).
- Immediately contact your doctor if you have dark urine, pale or yellowish skin, fever, weakness, or a severe skin reaction (such as a sore throat, skin pain followed by red itchy rashes, or a burning sensation in your eyes) while using glimepiride.
- Avoid sunlight exposure during treatment with glimepiride, because it can make your skin burn in sunlight rapidly. So, before going outside, use sunscreen with an SPF greater than 30.
- Glimepiride is contraindicated in diabetic ketoacidosis (a condition in which blood sugar level is very high along with a higher concentration of ketone (acidic substance) in the body).
Advantages
- Lower risk of hypoglycemia: Hypoglycemia refers to a lower blood glucose level. Glimepiride is a second-generation sulfonylurea and has a lower risk of hypoglycemia in comparison to other sulfonylureas.
- Lower risk of weight gain: Glimepiride has a lower risk of weight gain as compared to other sulfonylureas. In combination with metformin, it is a safe and effective oral anti-diabetic drug.
- Safe for cardiac (heart) disease patient: Glimepiride is safe for patients with cardiovascular diseases in comparison to other sulfonylureas.
- Decrease lipolysis (the breakdown of fatty acids by adipose tissue)
Conclusion
Glimepiride is a safe and effective oral anti-diabetic drug in comparison to other sulfonylureas. That’s why it is considered a second-line anti-diabetic drug.
Dr. Best Pharmaceuticals provides premium-quality healthcare products in various therapeutic segments, such as lipid profile management, cardiovascular agents, anti-diabetic drugs, antibiotics, OTC drugs, gastrointestinal agents, vitamins, and analgesics.
The anti-diabetic drug glimepiride (EZIPRIDE 1 (1 mg), EZIPRIDE 2 (2 mg), and EZIPRIDE 4 (4 mg) are widely available with their online pharmacy 24 hours a day with a massive discount of 80%. The aim of Dr Best Pharmaceuticals is that everyone should get their medicine at an affordable price. So go and get the benefits.
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