Abstract
When starting initial medication in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the appropriate drug should be selected considering characteristics of the patient, efficacy, side effects, and cost. It is generally recommended to use metformin as the first-line treatment oral hypoglycemic agent in T2DM patients. Metformin is recommended as the first treatment because of its excellent glucose lowering effect, relatively mild side effects, long-term safety, low risk of hypoglycemia, and small weight gain. If it is difficult to use metformin as a first-line treatment, appropriate drugs can be selected based on the clinical situation.
References
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Table 1.
Mechanism and common use | Weight gain | Hypoglycemiaa | HbA1c reduction (%)a | Side effects | Caution | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biguanide (metformin) | ↓ Hepatic glucose production Start with lower dose and titrate upward slowly | Neutral or decrease | No | 1.0∼2.0 | GI side effects (anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping), vitamin B12 deficiency, lactic acidosis (rare) | Contraindication in severe hepatic or renal insufficiency (eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2), severe infection, dehydration, heart failure. Major operation or iodine-contrast use within 48 hours |
Sulfonylurea (gliclazide, glipizide, glimepiride, glibenclamide) | ↑ Insulin secretion from β-cells Before meal | Yes | Yes | 1.0∼2.0 | Severe hepatic or renal insufficiency, secondary failure | |
Meglitinide (repaglinide, nateglinide, mitiglinide) | ↑ Insulin secretion from β-cells, ↓ postprandial hyperglycemia Before each meal | Yes | Yes | 0.5∼1.5 | Severe hepatic or renal insufficiency | |
DPP-4 inhibitor (sitagliptin, vildagliptin, saxagliptin, linagliptin, gemigliptin, alogliptin, teneligliptin, anagliptin) | ↑ Postprandial incretin (GLP-1, GIP), ↑ glucose-dependent insulin secretion, ↓ postprandial glucagon secretion, ↓ postprandial hyperglycemia, use regardless of mealtime | No | No | 0.5∼1.0 | Angioedema, urticaria Acute pancreatitis Risk for heart failure (saxagliptin, alogliptin) | Dose titration in severe hepatic or renal insufficiency |
Thiazolidinedione (pioglitazone, lobeglitazone) | ↑ Insulin sensitivity (muscle, adipose tissue), ↓ hepatic glucose production, once daily regardless of mealtime | Yes | No | 0.5∼1.4 | Edema, anemia, bone fracture, heart failure | Heart failure, severe hepatic or renal insufficiency |
SGLT-2 inhibitor (dapagliflozin, ipragliflozin, empagliflozin) | ↓ Renal glucose reabsorption, ↑ glucosuria Once daily regardless of mealtime | No | No | 0.5∼1.0 | Genitourinary tract infections, polyuria, dehydration, DKA | Old age, heart failure, hypotension, diuretics use, not for severe CKD (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) |
α-glucosidase Inhibitor (acarbose, voglibose) | ↓ Upper intestinal glucose absorption, ↓ postprandial hyperglycemia Before each meal | No | No | 0.5∼1.0 | GI side effects (flatulence, diarrhea, bloating) | Severe hepatic or renal insufficiency, chronic inflammatory bowel disease with malabsorption, severe infection |