Patient was educated on Avandamet and its mechanism of action as follows:
- Avandamet is an oral antidiabetic drug, that is a combination of Metformin and Rosiglitazone, used especially in patients with type-2 diabetes.
- Avandamet controls the blood sugars by the following mechanisms:
- Decreasing gluconeogenesis – Gluconeogenesis is a process that occurs in the human body in which glucose is made from sources other than carbohydrates, such as, proteins and fats. Gluconeogenesis results in increased blood sugar levels. Avandamet inhibits gluconeogenesis in the liver, thereby, contributing towards reduced blood sugar. Avandamet also helps in reducing absorption of glucose in the intestines, thus contributing towards reduced blood sugar.
- Avandamet also helps with increasing the sensitivity of skeletal muscle for insulin. When the sensitivity for insulin increases, this results in increased glucose uptake by skeletal muscle. When more glucose is taken up by the muscle, this reduces the blood glucose. Since Avandamet improves the sensitivity of muscle cells for insulin, it is used especially in individuals with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes.
- Avandamet also reduces insulin resistance and increases the sensitivity of body cells to insulin. Avandamet use also results in synthesis of new fat cells. This leads to increased glucose uptake by the body cells and consequently, result in reduced blood sugar and control of diabetes.
- By reducing the blood sugars, Avandamet will reduce the need for insulin secretion from the Beta-cells of islets of pancreas.
- Control of blood sugars over time with Avandamet also results in lowering of hemoglobin A1c, which is an indicator of blood glucose control over the past 2 to 3 months.
