Pharmacological control of blood sugar

Publication date: October 2014 Source:Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Medicine, Volume 15, Issue 10 Author(s): Giridhar Tarigopula , Melanie J. Davies Diabetes is a chronic and progressive metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycaemia. The two main types of diabetes are type 1 diabetes (T1DM) where there is complete lack of insulin and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) which may be due to a combination of insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency due to impaired β-cell function. Good control of blood glucose near physiological limits is vital to reduce long-term microvascular and macrovascular complications of diabetes. Insulin replacement is a life-saving measure in individuals with T1DM whereas the mainstay of therapy in T2DM includes oral agents, non-insulin injectables (incretin mimetics) and insulin. In T2DM, the incretin mimetics have revolutionized recent treatment options by reducing blood glucose, promoting weight loss and improving β-cell function. Moreover, the emergence of a new class of drugs such as the sodium–glucose transporter inhibitors for patients with T2DM holds much promise. Despite the availability of several drugs to treat this chronic debilitating condition, the management of hyperglycaemia remains challenging. The role of diet, lifestyle changes and patient education is of paramount importance and should be pursued aggressively. This review will look at drugs currently used to optimize blood glucose control and briefly discuss the r...
Source: Anaesthesia and intensive care medicine - Category: Anesthesiology Source Type: research