The role of glimepiride in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
BACKGROUND
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasingly prevalent throughout the world; controlling glycemia is an important part of preventing serious complications of diabetes. Sulfonylureas have been used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes for many years.


METHODS
This article reviews the pharmacological and clinical aspects of glimepiride, a second-generation sulfonylurea. Literature search was conducted in PubMed, and articles selected for relevance to pharmacology or clinical efficacy data from 1994 to 2009, with older references sought as indicated.


RESULTS
Pharmacology of glimepiride, data regarding clinical efficacy, key comparisons to other agents and emerging concepts related to glimepiride are discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
Therapy with glimepiride improves the relative insulin secretory deficit found in T2DM, has antihyperglycemic efficacy equal to other secretagogues with reduced potential for hypoglycemia and may have additional actions contributing to glycemic control in T2DM.
Briscoe
Vanessa J
VJ
Vanderbilt University, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, 7465 MRB IV, 2213 Garland Avenue, Nashville, TN 37232-0475, USA. steve.davis@vanderbilt.edu
Griffith
Michelle L
ML
Davis
Stephen N
SN
D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds; C057619:glimepiride