Fixed combinations of hypoglycemic drugs in the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in our country is quite high. Most of them are type 2 diabetes. This pathology is characterized by a rather high disability and mortality. The main cause of deaths in type 2 diabetes are cardiovascular diseases – about 52.0%. An important reason for the development and progression of these complications is the lack of compensation for diabetes, which is currently a serious problem. Thus, according to statistics in Russia, the proportion of compensated patients with type 2 diabetes with a glycated hemoglobin level of less than 7.0% is only slightly more than half of all patients. The reasons for insufficient compensation of the disease may be such factors as the lack of patient education and self-control, as well as the patient’s low adherence to compliance with the rules for taking hypoglycemic drugs. The use of prolonged forms of drugs, as well as combined drugs, increases the adherence of patients to therapy. Among oral medications for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, the most commonly prescribed drugs are metformin and sulfonylurea (SM) derivatives. The joint appointment of these groups of drugs improves glycemic control of patients. There are drugs containing fixed combinations of metformin and SM derivatives. For example, containing 2.5 mg/tab of glibenclamide and 400 mg/tab of metformin, and 2.5 mg/tab of glib-enclamide and 500 mg/tab of metformin and 5 mg/tab of glibenclamide and 500 mg/tab of metformin, as well, containing 2 mg/tab of glimepiride and 500 mg/tab metformin. Such dosages are convenient for patient intake and further titration, also have a low risk of hypoglycemia.