Brand names in category Diabetes:

Diabetes mellitus often referred to simply as diabetes "to pass through [urine]"), is a syndrome of disordered metabolism, usually due to a combination of hereditary and environmental causes, resulting in abnormally high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia). Blood glucose levels are controlled by a complex interaction of multiple chemicals and hormones in the body, including the hormone insulin made in the beta cells of the pancreas. Diabetes mellitus refers to the group of diseases that lead to high blood glucose levels due to defects in either insulin secretion or insulin action.

Diabetes develops due to a diminished production of insulin (in type 1) or resistance to its effects (in type 2 and gestational). Both lead to hyperglycaemia, which largely causes the acute signs of diabetes: excessive urine production, resulting compensatory thirst and increased fluid intake, blurred vision, unexplained weight loss, lethargy, and changes in energy metabolism.

Anti-diabetic drugs treat diabetes mellitus by lowering glucose levels in the blood. With the exceptions of insulin, exenatide, and pramlintide, all are administered orally and are thus also called oral hypoglycemic agents or oral antihyperglycemic agents. There are different classes of anti-diabetic drugs, and their selection depends on the nature of the diabetes, age and situation of the person, as well as other factors.

- Rosiglitazone (Avandia) is an anti-diabetic drug in the thiazolidinedione class of drugs.

- Metformin (Glucophage, Riomet, Fortamet, Glumetza, Obimet, Dianben, Diabex, Diaformin, and others) is an oral anti-diabetic drug from the biguanide class. It is the first-line drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, particularly in overweight and obese people and those with normal kidney function, and evidence suggests it may be the best choice for people with heart failure.

- Glimepiride (Amaryl) is a medium-to-long acting sulfonylurea anti-diabetic drug. Glimepiride is the first third-generation sulfonylurea, and is very potent.

- Quinapril (Accupril) is an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE inhibitor) used in the treatment of hypertension and congestive heart failure.

- Pioglitazone (Actos, Glustin, Zactos) is a prescription drug of the class thiazolidinedione with hypoglycemic (antihyperglycemic, antidiabetic) action.

- Gliclazide (Diamicron Mr, Diamicron, Dianorm-In, Remicron MR, Diabeton MR, Diamicron 30mg, Diamicron LM 30mg, Diamicron MR 30 mg, Diamicron Uno 30mg, Dianormax MR, Diaprel MR, Uni Diamicron) is an oral hypoglycemic (anti-diabetic drug) and is classified as a sulfonylurea.

- Glucotrol (Glucotrol XL, Glipizide) is an oral medium-to-long acting anti-diabetic drug from the sulfonylurea class. It is classified as a second generation sulfonylurea, which means that it undergoes enterohepatic circulation. The structure on the R2 group is a much larger cyclo or aromatic group compared to the 1st generation sulfonylureas. This leads to a once a day dosing that is much less than the first generation, about 100 fold.

- Glucovance (Glyburide and Metformin HCl Tablets) contains two oral antihyperglycemic drugs used in the management of type 2 diabetes, glyburide and metformin hydrochloride. Glyburide is an oral antihyperglycemic drug of the sulfonylurea class.

- Glibenclamide (Glyburide, Micronase) is an anti-diabetic drug in a class of medications known as sulfonylureas, used in the treatment of type II diabetes.

- Tolbutamide (Orinase) is a first generation potassium channel blocker, sulfonylurea oral hypoglycemic drug sold under the brand name Orinase. This drug may be used in the management of type II diabetes if diet alone is not effective. Tolbutamide stimulates the secretion of insulin by the pancreas. Since the pancreas must synthesize insulin in order for this drug to work, it is not effective in the management of type I diabetes. It is not routinely used due to a higher incidence of adverse effects compared to newer second generation sulfonylureas, such as glyburide.

- Repaglinide (Prandin, GlucoNorm, NovoNorm) is a for the treatment of type II diabetes.

- Acarbose (Glucobay, Precose, Prandase) is an anti-diabetic drug used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus and, in some countries, prediabetes. It is an inhibitor of alpha glucosidase, an enteric enzyme that releases glucose from larger carbohydrates.

- Nateglinide (Starlix) is a drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.