Drug Class Review: Oral Hypoglycemics: Final Report [Internet]

In the United States, approximately 16 million persons have type 2 diabetes mellitus. Diabetes is associated with increased morbidity from vascular disease. Hyperglycemia is thought to increase the risk of these vascular complications and, in the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study, intensive treatment with diet, insulin, or oral hypoglycemic medications reduced the risk of microvascular complications by about 25%. Sulfonylureas are a class of oral hypoglycemics that reduce blood glucose levels by stimulating insulin secretion. Two other oral antidiabetic drugs that work by stimulating insulin secretion, repaglinide and nateglinide, are available in the U.S. These drugs have been called "non-sulfonylurea secretagogues". The purpose of this review is to compare the efficacy, effectiveness, and adverse effects of oral hypoglycemics.