For 10 years the patient was in stage 1 of diabetes mellitus and was treated with only an AMPK agonist, which simulated exercises effects and independently brought glucose into cells without insulin’s effects. Stage 1 is where the patient has insulin resistance/tolerance, but still functional beta cells, which produce increasing amounts of insulin to overcome tolerance. The patient has now moved to stage 2 of type II diabetes, which means she still has insulin resistance but now has beta cell dysfunction from being overworked. For this patient I would look to the second-degree treatment options of a sulfonylurea and GLP-1 receptor agonist. The sulfonylurea is an inhibitor of potassium channels in the beta cells, which mimics the rise in ATP and depolarizes the cell allowing calcium influx and then insulin release. This medication will help to bring function back to the dysfunctional beta cells of the pancreas and produce more insulin. The GLP-1 agonist mimics the effects of the distal hormone glucagon-like peptide 1, which is released by the body in response to sugar absorption. This protein targets distal effectors throughout the body to increase insulin biosynthesis and beta cell proliferation in the pancreas and increase insulin sensitivity in the liver. The GLP-1 agonist will produce these same effects without the ingestion of carbohydrates, and help to increase insulin production and insulin
For 10 years the patient was in stage 1 of diabetes mellitus and was treated with only an AMPK agonist, which simulated exercises effects and independently brought glucose into cells without insulin’s effects. Stage 1 is where the patient has insulin resistance/tolerance, but still functional beta cells, which produce increasing amounts of insulin to overcome tolerance. The patient has now moved to stage 2 of type II diabetes, which means she still has insulin resistance but now has beta cell dysfunction from being overworked. For this patient I would look to the second-degree treatment options of a sulfonylurea and GLP-1 receptor agonist. The sulfonylurea is an inhibitor of potassium channels in the beta cells, which mimics the rise in ATP and depolarizes the cell allowing calcium influx and then insulin release. This medication will help to bring function back to the dysfunctional beta cells of the pancreas and produce more insulin. The GLP-1 agonist mimics the effects of the distal hormone glucagon-like peptide 1, which is released by the body in response to sugar absorption. This protein targets distal effectors throughout the body to increase insulin biosynthesis and beta cell proliferation in the pancreas and increase insulin sensitivity in the liver. The GLP-1 agonist will produce these same effects without the ingestion of carbohydrates, and help to increase insulin production and insulin