Antidiabetic
Antidiabetic
Antidiabetic (pronunciation: an·ti·di·a·bet·ic, /ˌæntiˌdaɪəˈbɛtɪk/) refers to any substance or measure that helps to prevent or counteract diabetes.
Etymology
The term "antidiabetic" is derived from the Greek words "anti" meaning against, and "diabetes" which originally meant "siphon" - to pass through, alluding to excessive urination, one of the key symptoms of diabetes.
Types of Antidiabetic Drugs
There are several types of antidiabetic drugs, and they can be classified into different categories based on their mechanism of action. Some of the most common types include:
- Insulin: This is a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels. It is often used in the treatment of type 1 diabetes and in some cases of type 2 diabetes.
- Sulfonylureas: These drugs stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin.
- Biguanides: The most common biguanide is Metformin. It works by decreasing the amount of glucose produced by the liver and improving the body's response to insulin.
- Thiazolidinediones: These drugs help insulin work better in the muscle and fat and also reduce glucose production in the liver.
- DPP-4 inhibitors: These drugs help reduce blood sugar levels but do not cause weight gain.
- SGLT2 inhibitors: These drugs prevent the kidneys from reabsorbing sugar into the blood and instead allow it to be excreted in the urine.
Related Terms
- Diabetes mellitus: A group of metabolic diseases characterized by high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period.
- Hyperglycemia: A condition characterized by an excessive amount of glucose in the bloodstream, often associated with diabetes mellitus.
- Hypoglycemia: A condition characterized by an abnormally low level of glucose in the blood.
- Insulin resistance: A condition in which cells fail to respond normally to the hormone insulin.
- Glycemic index: A number associated with a particular type of food that indicates the food's effect on a person's blood glucose level.
- Glucose tolerance test: A test that measures the body's ability to metabolize glucose.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Antidiabetic
- Wikipedia's article - Antidiabetic
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