Pancreas oral antidiabetics

Insulin is necessary for controlling type 1 diabetes mellitus that is caused by a marked decrease in the amount of insulin produced by die pancreas. Insulin is also used to control the more severe and complicated forms of type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, many patients can control type 2 diabetes with diet and exercise alone or with diet, exercise, and an oral antidiabetic drug (see section Oral Antidiabetic Dmgp ). Insulin may also be used in the treatment of severe diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or diabetic coma. Insulin is also used in combination with glucose to treat hypokalemia by producing a shift of potassium from die blood and into die cells. 

Oral antidiabetic agents might be indicated in noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), i.e. diabetes Type II where insulin resistance caused by down-regulation of insulin receptors or a failure of the pancreas to release insulin even though it is formed, play a role. However, oral antidiabetic... 

No. Insulin injections are administered when the pancreas is unable to product sufficient insulin. Oral antidiabetic medication stimulates insulin secretion. 

In 1990 the first drug of a new class of oral antidiabetic was commercialized under the name of Acarbose (Glucobay ) and used to treat type-2 diabetes mellitus (Figure 9.2.7). Acarbose is an a-glucosidase inhibitor that acts by competitive and reversible inhibition of a-amylase from the pancreas and a-glucosidase. The inhibition of these enzymes results in a delayed absorption of glucose from the gut and a reduced post-prandial increase in plasma glucose and insulin. 

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