Nateglinide - A new member of the meglitinide family for postprandial glucose control in type 2 diabetes

Nateglinide, an orally active secretagogue that lacks the sulfonylurea moiety, is currently under FDA review for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, it is a derivative of the amino acid D-phenylalanine and has a rapid onset and short duration of action. These properties may be of benefit in stimulating the acute insulin response to a meal that is lost in patients with type 2 diabetes and may thus lower the risk of hypoglycemia, By lowering glucose peaks following meals, nateglinide may help to provide lighter glycemic control and thereby prevent or delay the onset of diabetes-related complications. Nateglinide is administered 10 minutes prior to each meal. Its proposed indications include use as monotherapy and in combination with metformin, Formulary evaluations of nateglinide will likely focus on its merits relative to the other available meglitinide agent, repaglinide.