Sugar-Lowering Drugs for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolic Syndrome-Review of Classical and New Compounds: Part-I

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia together with disturbances in the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fat, which in general results from an insulin availability and need imbalance. In a great number of patients, marketed anti-glycemic agents have shown poor effectiveness in maintaining a long-term glycemic control, thus being associated with severe adverse effects and leading to an emerging interest in natural compounds (e.g., essential oils and other secondary plant metabolites, namely, flavonoid-rich compounds) as a novel approach for prevention, management and/or treatment of either non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (T2DM, type 2 DM) and/or Metabolic Syndrome (MS). In this review, some of these promising glucose-lowering agents will be comprehensively discussed.

Keywords: diabetes mellitus; glucose-lowering agents; metabolic syndrome; phytotherapy; sugar-lowering oils.

Figure 1

Main characteristics of pancreatic function in healthy individuals versus in diabetic individuals. In heathy individuals, the pancreas responds to hyperglycaemia with insulin secretion aiming to maintain gluco-homeostasis. Diabetes occurs when the pancreas fails to produce insulin, DMT1, insulin-dependent, or when insulin produced is insufficient or unable to produce gluco-homeostasis (DMT1).

Figure 2

Oral and injectable non-insulin glucose-lowering drugs approved by the American Diabetes Association.