Table 1.

Listing of the drug classes currently approved to treat hyperglycemia, with the exception of insulin and insulin analogs, the United States followed by the drug names and relevant references from the text

Drug Class	Drug Name (Trade Name)	Mechanism(s)	Selected Reference(s)
α-Glucosidase inhibitors	Acarbose ( Precose); miglitol (Glyset); voglibose (Voglib)	Inhibits intestinal carbohydrate absorption	33
Bile acid sequestrant	Colesevelam (Welchol)	Unknown, possibly stimulates of incretin secretion	9, 17, 21, 24, 63
Sulfonylureas	Glyburide/glibenclamide (Diabeta, Glynase, Micronase); glipizide (Glucotrol); glimeperide (Amaryl)	Glucose-independent insulin secretion	22, 55, 61, 72
Meglitinides	Repaglinide (Prandin); nateglinide (Starlix)	Glucose-independent insulin secretion	25
Glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists	Exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon); liraglutide (Victoza)	Enhances glucose-dependent insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon secretion, delays gastric emptying, stimulates satiety	3, 8, 15, 20, 34, 53, 70
Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors	Sitagliptin (Januvia); saxagliptin (Onglyza); linagliptin (Tradjenta)	Enhances glucose-dependent insulin secretion, inhibits of glucagon secretion	1, 6, 15, 47
Amylin analog	Pramlintide (Symlin)	Stimulates satiety, reduces glucagon secretion	4, 26, 32, 60
Biguanide	Metformin (Glucophage, Fortamet, Glumetza, Riomet)	Inhibits hepatic glucose production	7a, 64, 66, 71
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonists	Pioglitazone (Actos); rosiglitazone (Avandia)	Reduces ectopic lipid accumulation, increases adiponectin, reduces deleterious cytokine secretion	12, 31, 50, 58
Dopamine agonist	Bromocriptine (Cycloset)	Unknown, probably reduces central adrenergic tone	5, 7, 13, 52