Sulfonylurea

Sulfonylureas are oral glucose-lowering drugs that stimulate pancreatic beta cells to release insulin by closing ATP-sensitive potassium channels. They are used to treat type 2 diabetes.

ATP-sensitive potassium channel: A potassium channel regulated by cellular energy that helps control electrical activity in pancreatic beta cells. Sulfonylureas bind its regulatory subunit and close the channel.
Type 2 diabetes: A chronic metabolic disease characterized by insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion. Sulfonylureas are used when additional glucose lowering is needed.
Metformin: A glucose-lowering medicine that primarily reduces hepatic glucose production and improves insulin sensitivity. It rarely causes hypoglycemia by itself and is often used before sulfonylureas.
Sulfonamide: A family of compounds containing a sulfonamide functional group, including drugs with antimicrobial and other actions. Sulfonylureas emerged from investigations of this broader chemical family.
Insulin secretion: The release of insulin from pancreatic beta cells into the bloodstream. Channel closure depolarizes beta cells and triggers insulin release.
Glyburide: A long-acting sulfonylurea medication used to lower blood glucose in type 2 diabetes. It illustrates the class's glucose-lowering action and notable hypoglycemia risk.
Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor: A drug class that prolongs incretin hormone activity to enhance glucose-dependent insulin secretion. These drugs stimulate insulin less when glucose is low, unlike sulfonylureas.
Carbutamide: An early sulfonylurea drug introduced for diabetes treatment in the 1950s. It was among the first medicines in the class used clinically.
Beta cell: A pancreatic islet cell that produces and secretes insulin. Sulfonylureas act on these cells rather than supplying insulin directly.
Glipizide: A sulfonylurea medication used to improve blood glucose control in type 2 diabetes. Its shorter action profile can be relevant when choosing within the class.

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