Type 2 Diabetes mellitus is metabolic disease characterized by persistent high blood glucose caused by decreased insulin production and defective insulin action. Glimin is emerging class of oral medications for treatment of Type 2 Diabetes and Imeglimin is first in class novel oral agent.
Imeglimin is a promising oral agent due to its mode of action at both the cellular and the molecular level-
It improves insulin sensitivity and helps in increasing glucose uptake in muscle and liver.
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It helps to preserve Beta cells (insulin producing cells which are located inside the pancreas) mass.
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It amplifies glucose stimulated insulin secretion.
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It decreases new glucose production through liver .
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correction of mitochondrial dysfunction resulting in decrease oxidative stress of beta cells.
Rx
Imeglimin is available in tablet form. At present maximum allowed dose is 1 g per day. It can be used as add on therapy to other oral anti-diabetic agents and insulin too. Medicine is approved for treatment of Type 2 Diabetes in many Asian countries like Japan. Recently, it has got approval from Indian government body for its use in India.
Side effects
It is well tolerated medicine with few side-effects like diarrhoea, nausea, abdominal pain and allergic reaction.
There is very less chance of severe hypoglycaemia.
Caution
It can not be used during pregnancy and breast feeding.
Dr. Manish Bothale is a Consulting Diabetologist.
