Glucoryl Plus tablets are an important combination medication for the management and treatment of type 2 diabetes, a chronic disease characterized by high blood sugar levels due to insulin resistance and insufficient insulin secretion. This medication contains a balanced and studied combination of two active ingredients that work through two different and complementary mechanisms to lower blood sugar levels: glimepiride 1 mg and metformin 500 mg per tablet. This combination provides more comprehensive blood sugar control than either drug alone, making it an effective treatment option for patients who are unable to achieve adequate blood sugar control with a single drug.
Active Ingredients in Glucoryl Plus Tablets
The therapeutic efficacy of Glucoryl Plus tablets relies on the combined effect of the following two active ingredients:
Glimepiride: 1 mg per tablet. Glimepiride belongs to the third-generation sulfonylurea class and works primarily by stimulating the beta cells in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas to secrete more insulin in response to blood glucose levels.
Metformin: 500 mg per tablet. Metformin belongs to the biguanide class and works by reducing glucose production in the liver and increasing the sensitivity of peripheral tissues, especially muscle, to insulin, which increases glucose uptake from the blood.
(Other formulations of Glucoryl Plus or similar products may be available with different concentrations of glimepiride and metformin to suit different patient needs, as determined by the manufacturer.)
Mechanism of Action of Glucoryl Plus Tablets
Glucoryl Plus tablets work through multiple, integrated mechanisms to lower blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes:
Increasing insulin secretion with glimepiride: Glimepiride binds to specific receptors on the surface of beta cells in the pancreas, leading to the closure of ATP-sensitive potassium channels. This leads to depolarization of the cell membrane and the entry of calcium ions into the cell, stimulating the release of stored insulin.
Reducing hepatic glucose production with metformin: Metformin inhibits gluconeogenesis in the liver, the process by which glucose is produced from non-carbohydrate sources. This reduces the amount of glucose released by the liver into the bloodstream, especially between meals and during fasting.
Improving tissue sensitivity to insulin with metformin: Metformin enhances insulin's ability to work more effectively in peripheral tissues, such as muscle, increasing glucose uptake from the blood and its use as an energy source. This helps overcome insulin resistance, the primary problem in type 2 diabetes.
The combined effect of these mechanisms leads to an effective reduction in fasting and post-meal blood sugar levels and improved overall control of type 2 diabetes.