Table 1.

Classes of oral medications for glycemic management approved in the USA [1, 24]

Class	Compounds	Primary physiologic action	Hypoglycemia	Weight
Biguanides	Metformin	↓ Hepatic glucose production	Neutral	Slight loss
Sulfonylureas	Glyburide/glibenclamide Glimepiride Glipizide	↑ Insulin secretion	Moderate/severe	Gain
Meglitinides	Repaglinide Nateglinide	↑ Insulin secretion	Mild	Gain
Thiazolidinediones	Pioglitazone Rosiglitazone	↑ Insulin sensitivity	Neutral	Gain
α-Glucosidase inhibitors	Acarbose Miglitol	Slows carbohydrate digestion/absorption	Neutral	Neutral
DPP-4 inhibitors	Alogliptin Linagliptin Sitagliptin Saxagliptin	↑ Insulin secretion (glucose-dependent) ↓ Glucagon secretion (glucose-dependent)	Neutral	Neutral
Bile acid sequestrants	Colesevelam	↓ Hepatic glucose production (?) ↑ Incretin levels (?)	Neutral	Neutral
Dopamine-2 agonists	Bromocriptine (quick release)	Modulates hypothalamic regulation of metabolism ↑ Insulin sensitivity	Neutral	Neutral
SGLT2 inhibitors	Canagliflozin Dapagliflozin Empagliflozin	Inhibit glucose reabsorption by the kidney ↑ Glucosuria	Neutral	Loss

DPP-4 dipeptidyl peptidase-4, SGLT2 sodium glucose cotransporter 2