Oral Hypoglycemics: A Review of Chemicals Used to Treat Type 2 Diabetes

摘要

In this review, we focus on the chemicals used in the current treatment of type 2 diabetes and discuss somepotentially viable, promising targets in the management of this metabolic syndrome, with a special mention to somenaturally occurring bioactive compounds. Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM or Type 2 diabetes) is aprevalent, chronic metabolic disorder, which affects more than 171 million people worldwide. Diminished insulinsecretion due to impaired -cell function and/or insulin resistance of the peripheral tissues such as liver, adipose tissue andskeletal muscle causes hyperglycemia, which is controlled with suitable pharmacological agents. The current line oftreatment includes: (1) insulin secretagogues, (2) insulin sensitizers, (3) dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitors, (4) biguanides,(5) -glucosidase inhibitors and (6) drugs in development.