Patient was educated on PrandiMet and its mechanism of action as follows:
- PrandiMet is an oral antidiabetic medication and is a combination of Metformin and Repaglinide.
- PrandiMet is mostly used in type-2 diabetes individuals with reduced insulin secretion and in individuals who are resistant to the amount of insulin they are currently producing.
- PrandiMet acts to control 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. PrandiMet inhibits gluconeogenesis in the liver, thereby, contributing towards reduced blood sugar.
- PrandiMet helps in reducing absorption of glucose in the intestines, thus contributing towards reduced blood sugar.
- PrandiMet 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 PrandiMet improves the sensitivity of muscle cells for insulin, it is used especially in individuals with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes.
- PrandiMet also acts by stimulating release of more insulin for the Beta-cells of islets of pancreas and increased insulin secretion will lead to lowering of blood glucose concentrations.
- By reducing the blood sugars, PrandiMet will reduce the need for insulin secretion from the Beta-cells of islets of pancreas.
- Control of blood sugars over time with PrandiMet also results in lowering of hemoglobin A1c, which is an indicator of blood glucose control over the past 2 to 3 months.
