Comparative Review of Drugs Used in Diabetes Mellitus—New and Old

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a syndrome of chronically elevated glucose level in the blood either due to insulin resistance, insulin deficiency or both. In addition, it may occur due to defective metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. There are 3 main types of DM: Type 2 DM is more prevalent in adults and is typically due to relative insulin deficiency, deficiency of insulin in children leads to DM type 1; and lastly, gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy resulting from an imbalance of placental hormones. Introduction: Insulin, Biguanides and Sulfonylureas are some of the drug classes used to treat DM. However, their use is complicated by numerous side effects, such as; hypoglycemia & weight gain from insulin and sulfonylureas; lactic acidosis, vitamin B12 deficiency and gastrointestinal upset with metformin. Route of administration and cost are also important factors to consider when prescribing. It is for this reason the quest for newer, safer and easier to administer drugs is ongoing. Methodology: Used all the articles available on anti Diabetic drugs on web especially in British Medical Journal, Elsevier, Pubmed, Google scholar and Wikipedia etc. Got a final review article to compare the older and newer anti Diabetic drugs. Results and Conclusion: Insulin is good for controlling acute hyperglycemic states in DM but it causes acute hypoglycemia and lipodystrophy. Metformin is good hypoglycemic and easily available but causes hypoglycemia, metallic taste, Lactic acidosis and B12 deficiency. Sulfonylureas are good hypoglycemic but causes severe hypoglycemia acutely and weight gain so contraindicated for obese or hypertensive patients. While newer antidiabetics such as GLP 1 agonists increases insulin secretions has very low risk of hypoglycemia, causes weight loss as compared to insulin and decreases risk of cardiovascular side effects but still can’t be used in renally impaired patients, causes pancreatitis and can not be given in gastroparesis patients, similarly a newer drug of this class known as LY2189265 has long halflife of 90 hours, better efficacy, but causes pancreatitis and increase diastolic BP in high doses, pancreatitis is not associated with lixisenatide (GLP 1 agonist), while DPP4 inhibitors which increases GLP 1 in body has less risk of hypoglycemia, GI side effects, are weight neutral can be used in CKD but causes headaches and Nasopharyngitis. Bromocriptine or pegvisomant are used in patients of growth hormones adenoma induced DM as a medical therapy but are associated with psychosis and hallucinations. Meglitinides increases insulin secretion and has minuscule risk of hypoglycemia but can not be used in CKD patients. Otelixizumab and Teplizumab decrease T cell functions and save beta cells from immune reactions used in DM 1 but cause immune suppression and is an orphan drug. Recombinant GAD used in vaccines decreased antibody mediated beta cell damage but is still under studies.