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