Drug Review - Repaglinide: A Short Acting Insulin Secretagogue for Postprandial Hyperglycaemia

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a complex and heterogeneous disorder. The pathogenesis involves multiple mechanisms which contribute to hyperglycaemia, most notably impaired insulin secretion by pancreatic β-cells, reduced glucose uptake by skeletal muscle and adipose tissue (peripheral insulin resistance) and increased hepatic glucose production. Although basal insulin secretion may remain within the normal range, the meal-time insulin response is blunted or delayed in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, which causes post-prandial hypoglycaemia.¹