Search

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous medical condition involving multiple pathophysiological mechanisms. Its successful treatment requires an individualized approach and frequently combined therapy with utilizing its effect on multiple levels. Current possibilities enable the employment of such procedures to an incomparably greater extent than before. The effects of different classes of oral antidiabetic drugs on the reduction of glycemia and HbA1c is mutually comparable. However differences are observed in the proportions of patients who met the required criteria, regarding the increase in weight, incidence of hypoglycemia as well as the effect on cardiovascular, renal or oncologic morbidity and mortality, and severity of specific adverse effects, potential risks and contraindications. The presented text provides the reader with the information about the Consensual therapeutic algorithm for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in compliance with SPC, the ADA/EASD amended indicative limitations and recommendations, formulated by the Committee of the Slovak Diabetes Society.Key words: biguanides - gliflozins - gliptins - glitazones - GLP-1-receptor agonists - insulin - sulfonylurea. more...

Pharmacogenetics is the study of how genes (individual genotypes) affect a persons response to drugs. At present, recommendations made about the treatment of some monogenic forms of diabetes are based on genetic diagnostics. The first studies in the field of pharmacogenetics of oral antidiabetics have now been published which have identified associations of individual genetic variants with response to treatment. The response to sulfonylurea derivatives was significantly associated with the variants KCNJ11/ABCC8, TCF7L2 and CYP2C9. The response to metformin treatment was associated with the genetic variants ATM and SLC47A1. The response to treatment with glitazones was associated with the genetic variant PPARG. The therapeutic response to the treatment with gliptins was associated with the genetic variants TCF7L2 and CTRB1/2. It may be expected that in the near future pharmacogenetic knowledge will also be used within personalized treatment of type 2 diabetes. more...

Review article summarizes current knowledge of the use of oral antidiabetics (approved for treatment of type 2 diabetes) in type 1 diabetic patients. Following drugs were tested: metformin, gliptines, analogues of GLP-1, glitazones, inhibitors of α-glukozidase and gliflozines. The latter seem to be the most perspective ones, however, more studies are warranted for definitive confirmation of their efficacy and safety. Current evidence-based results did not clearly show efficacy and safety of oral antidiabetics as adjuvant treatment in type 1 diabetic patients and thus, they still represent off-label treatment in this type of diabetes.Key words: oral antidiabetics - type 1 diabetes mellitus. more...

We shall open our overview of issues related to obesity and hyperlipoproteinemia (HLP) or dyslipidemia with a notoriously known truth (that some are still reluctant to accept): HLP/DLP is not obesity. It is certainly not possible to put an equal sign between subcutaneous fat and the level of plasma lipids and lipoproteins. On the other hand, it is obvious that there is a number of connecting links between HLP/DLP and obesity. These associations on one side and differences on the other are the focus of this review paper. (1) HLP/DLP as well as obesity represent a group of high incidence metabolic diseases (gradually evolving from epidemic to pandemic) that affect several tens of percent of inhabitants. (2) Both HLP/DLP and obesity often occur concurrently, often as a result of unhealthy lifestyle. However, genetic factors are also been studies and it is possible that mutual predispositions for the development of both diseases will be identified. At present, it is only possible to conclude that obesity worsens lipid metabolism in genetically-determined HLP. (3) Both these metabolic diseases represent a risk factor for other pathologies, cardiovascular diseases are the most important common complication of both conditions (central type of obesity only). Concurrent presence of HDL/DLP and obesity is often linked to other diagnoses, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2T), hypertension, pro-coagulation or pro-inflammatory states; all as part of so called metabolic syndrome. (4) Patients with metabolic syndrome and, mainly, central obesity usually have typical dyslipidemia with reduced HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) and sometimes hypertriglyceridaemia. Current treatment of HDL/DLP aims to first impact on the primary aim, i.e. LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), and than influence HDL-C. (5) It seems that the therapeutic efforts in HLP/DLP and obesity will go in the same direction. I will skip the trivial (and difficult to accept by patients) dietary changes. Pharmacotherapy, however, (very scarce with respect to obesity) may bring positive effects on lipids and BMI. Metformin used to be considered as a drug that could improve lipid profile and lead to body weight reduction. Even though larger studies did not provide an unambiguous evidence for this, metformin keeps its position as a first line oral antidiabetic (not only) in patients with T2DM, HLP and obesity. Positive effect on lipids, mainly HDL-C is reported with pioglitazone. This drug, unlike other glitazones, does not bring body weight reduction but at least does not have a negative effect. Other antidiabetics with a positive effect on lipids and body weight include incretins, liraglutid in particular. Liraglutid importantly decreases triglyceride levels and has anorectic effect. Furthermore, metabolic effects of bariatric surgery should not be overlooked. Bariatric surgery brings weight reduction as well as it improves lipid profile and compensation of diabetes mellitus (DM). It should be mentioned here that bariatric surgery has been used for the treatment of HLP as early as 1980s. The results of the 25-year follow up within the POSCH study (ideal bypass indicated for HLP), presented in 2010, confirm a decrease in overall as well as cardiovascular mortality in an operated group, even though patients who did not undergo surgery were significantly more frequently treated with statins. more...

Polycystic ovary syndrome was defined as the combination of anovulation and hyperandrogenaemia (NIH 1990). Another definition used the combination of ultrasonographic appearance of polycystic ovaries and/or anovulation and/or hyperandrogenaemia or cutaneous manifestations of hyperandrogenism (Rotterdam). The population defined according to NIH is probably in greater risk of insulin resistance and obesity. Pathogenesis of PCOS is not clear till now. Dysregulation of ovarian steroidogenesis could be one of the causes of the full-blown syndrome. Up-regulation of steroidogenic enzymes, probably due to the exaggerated expression of transcription factors such as GATA-6 or retinoids could be involved. Insulin sensitisators are now widely used in the therapy. They could beneficially modify not only insulin resistance and dyslipidaemia, but also ovarian and adrenal steroidogenesis. Metformin and glitazones improve anovulation however the studies conducted till now were not representative concerning the point of successful pregnancy. more...

Unlabelled: Thiazolidindione derivates (glitazones) make a very promising group of peroral antidiabetic drugs. They are represented by rosiglitazon which is available on our market to type II diabetics. As far as sugar metabolism is concerned, rosiglitazon can reduce glycaemia and insulin level both when fasting and postprandially., Goal: The goal of the authors' work was to gain their own experience with rosiglitazon treatment in type II diabetics in the Czech Republic., Sample: The monitored sample consisted of 388 patients with insufficiently compensated type II diabetes when treated by sulphonylurea compounds or metformine., Methods: 95 diabetologists from diabetology medical offices started a 6-month-long treatment with rosiglitazon (Avandia) dose of 4 mg a day as stated in European recommendations. In order to assess changes in sugar metabolism (compensation of diabetes) glycaemia and C peptide were monitored when fasting and postpradially and HbA1c was monitored in 2-month-long intervals., Results: Weight, waist-hip ratio (WHR) and C-peptide levels remained unchanged. Statistically significant (p < 0.0001) was a HbA1c decrease over 6 month from 9.61% to 8.48%. Fasting glycaemia decreased by 2.49 and postprandial glycaemia by 2.71 mmol/l. No significant side effects were identified., Conclusion: Rosiglitazon administration combined with administration of sulphonylurea compounds or metformine significantly improved compensation of diabetes compared to initial therapy. more...