Drug Mechanism: How does Glimepiride work?

Glimepiride 1 mg, is an oral blood sugar-lowering drug in a class of medicines for controlling diabetes called sulfonylureas.

Glimepiride 1 mg, is related to other sulfonylureas including glyburide (Micronase; Diabeta), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase) and tolazamide (Tolinase).

Glimepiride 1 mg, is used with diet and exercise to treat Type 2 (noninsulin-dependent) diabetes (formerly adult-onset).

Glimepiride 1 mg, may be used with or without insulin. Type II diabetes is the most common type of diabetes that is found in 90% of patients with diabetes. In type II diabetes, insulin usually is not necessary to control the blood sugar. Instead, diet and oral medications often are sufficient. Intolerance to sugar that results in elevated blood sugar is caused by reduced insulin secretion by the pancreas and resistance to insulin s effects by the body s cells.

Glimepiride 1 mg, lowers the sugar level in the blood by stimulating insulin to be secreted from the pancreas into the blood. The pancreas must be capable of producing insulin for this medication to work. Insulin causes sugar to leave the blood and enter cells throughout the body.

Glimepiride 1 mg, was approved by the FDA in December of 1995.