Oral hyperglycaemics

Question 1

What are oral hypoglycaemics?

Answer 1

a group of drugs which lowers or maintains blood glucose. They are not insulin but they stimulate the pancreas to produce insulin

Question 2

What are the types of oral hypoglycaemics?

Answer 2

Metformin
Sulphonylureas
GLP-1
DDP-4
Glitazones
Alpha-glucosidase inhibitor

Question 3

What does metformin do?

Answer 3

increases the uptake of glucose and utilisation by skeletal muscles. Side effects may be abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diahorrea, weight loss, lactic acidosis

Question 4

What does sulphonylureas do?

Answer 4

stimulates the release from beta cells from the pancreas by binding to the sulphonlurea receptor. May decrease insulin resistance. Side effects may be hypoglycaemics, weight gain

Question 5

What does GLP-1 do?

Answer 5

An agonist - Act on GI derived peptides (incretin hormones) which are secreted
following a meal. Incretin hormones stimulate pancreatic insulin secretion and inhibit
glucagon release. Side effect may be weight loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, hypoglycaemia

Question 6

What does DDP-4 Do?

Answer 6

Improve post-prandial BGLs, are weight neutral and
do not cause hypoglycaemia unless used in
combination with sulphonylureas.

Question 7

What do glitazones do?

Answer 7

Act to increase insulin sensitivity in tissues
and lower hepatic glucose production. Thus, improves insulin sensitivity at key sites where insulin resistance occurs. Side effects weight gain, oedema, heart failure, fractures (women)

Question 8

What does Alpha glucosidase do?

Answer 8

Delays intestinal absorption of carbohydrates by inhibiting alpha-
glucosidase enzymes in the small intestine. Sid effects are flatulence, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and distension