SU, names of medicine.

Sulfonylureas (UK: sulphonylurea) are a class of organic compounds used in medicine and agriculture. They are antidiabetic drugs widely used in the management of diabetes mellitus type 2. They act by increasing insulin release from the beta cells in the pancreas.

This type of medicine have different names on market, so when one medicine does not work and diabetic got severe poison effect then another medicne replase previous one. When name changed, the mechanism of action is still in the effect, and regardless of different names the side effects and action of medicine is about the same.
 Sulfonylureas, short abbreviation is SU marketed under names:
Gluburide:

• Amaril;
• Gynase;
• DiaBeta;
• Glucron;
• Glynase Pres Tab;
• Microglinase.

 Glipizide:

• Glipizide XL;
• Glucotrol;
• Glucotrol XL.

 In present time it is difficult to get information what medicine is good for, and how the medicine effect diabetic's body. So, if one wish to have this info, the best way to find studies based on which medicine was developed. I have this info from out of print books which were published before a new classification of diabetes in 1980 was introduced by WHO. According to the new classification population of diabetics was divided by types: type 1,insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), about 10% of all diabetics population, insulin dependent type of diabetes, and type 2, about 90% of all population of diabetics as not insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM.)
     Before new classification of diabetes was developed and introdused to be used, there was another classification of diabetes:

• severe labile when insulin shock and ketosis were all the time not far away;
• moderately severe when insulin required to control blood sugar level;
• mild, stable when diabetes could be controlled with diet and carbs restriction; 
• very mild when diet could control diabetic's elevated blood sugar.  

        Why classification was changed? I still do not get the idea. But it is not only classification which was changed. All attitude to diabetes as medical condition and to treatment of diabetes was different with the new classification. The studies and experiments also were different after 1980. In stead of study what medicine is best, and how medicine work or does not work, now it was studied  what possible can effect diabetes development or diabetes type 2 prevention. So, studies what is better, red wine vs red meat, or green peas vs green coffee beans, or yellow orange vs yellow fever, and so so on and on. The absurd of all these studies so clear, it is just not clear still, why they done in first place? All the answer is only one, money. easy money for those who are VIP.
      Old out of print books go out of market. Right now they come from medical libraries, and from those who collected that books when was active physician. There are less and less of them. Of cause there are re-print available for some books. But these re-prints are very limited.
      So, I use to buy what enter on market from public or private libraries, and check up Amazon regularly.
Metabolism. 
Clinical and Experimental. 
volume V, Number 6.
November 1956.
published by Grune & Stratton.
page 744-748.

      Based on his work from 1942 - 1946 Laubaties created hypothesis that SU acted to stimulate the beta cell to liberate insulin.
      Holt and others as Loubatieres later  noted that SU damage the alpha cells and so it leads to reduction of glucagon production by liver. No effect of blood sugar lowering if there are no insulin secretion possible.
      The level of glucose represent a balance between the amount of glucose liberated by the liver and glucose utilized in the peripheral tissue during the same time.

 So, SU work in very mild and in stable diabetes, but when insulin required as in moderately severe or severe labile types of diabetes SU  not only not beneficial but actually very danger. In contrast, Insulin will reduce mortality, safe live of diabetic and diabetic may live on insulin injections even own insulin secretion is not possible. In simple words, SU lead to fatality, and Insulin leads to stability of diabetic's life and health and well being.

via Ravenvoron