SU - Sulfonylureas, What about them?

Greetings,

As Ramadan month is just around the corner, today I'll be sharing bits and pieces about diabetic medication - Sulfonylureas (SU).

What are Sulfonylureas?

They are a group of medicines used to treat Type II Diabetes Mellitus a.k.a Kencing Manis (In Malay) / 糖尿病 (In Chinese).

Currently, under Malaysian government healthcare facilities setting, Gliclazide is the most commonly used Sulfonylurea medication.

So, how does it works in our body?

Sulfonylureas are insulin secretagogues, where it stimulates beta cells in our pancreas to produce more insulins. With more insulin produced, the excess sugar in our body will be converted and stored in our cells as energy reserve. Hence, the amount of sugar in our blood is lowered.

TLDR; it's an insulin-releasing pill.

Why we need to take note about how it's working?

During Ramadan month, Muslims fast during the day up until Iftar, which will be in the evening. They may be facing risk of hypoglycemia (where blood sugar is too low in the body), which can lead to multiple health complications, and in some cases, it can be fatal. The dose of SUs, as well as other oral glucose lowering drugs (OGLDs), should be revised and adjusted accordingly.

For muslims who are taking Sulfonylureas and will be fasting during Ramadan month, do remember to consult your physicians or pharmacists regarding dose adjustment to reduce risk of hypoglycemia.

TLDR; Muslims who fast during Ramadan month may require dose adjustment for their sulfonylureas.

Some examples of Sulfonylureas available in the market includes Gliclazide, Gliclazide MR, Glibenclamide, Glimepiride and Glipizide.

*Images used in this article are not affliated with any promotion of brands and are strictly for educational purposes only.*

Reference:

Ministry Of Health Malaysia. (2020).

Clinical Practice Guidelines: Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (6th Edition). 

Find out more about Gliclazide dose conversion HERE