Classification of Non-Insulin Glucose Lowering Drugs.

The ever-changing scenario of diabetes care, especially pharmacotherapy, calls for a framework to help classify non-insulin glucose drugs. Such a taxonomic structure should be of contemporary relevance as well as futuristic in vision; scholarly in intent but easy to understand; and based on pathophysiologic principles while being useful for the clinician. We propose a rubric which lists four classes of non-insulin glucose lowering drugs; insulin secretagogues, insulin sensitizers, calorie restriction mimetics, and calorie restrictors. This classification serves the need of students and teachers as well as pharmacologists and clinicians alike.