What is "meglitinide"

n. Any of a class of drugs used to treat type II diabetes.

Meglitinides (glinides) make up a class of drugs used to treat diabetes type 2.

They bind to an ATP-dependent K (K) channel on the cell membrane of pancreatic beta cells in a similar manner to sulfonylureas but have a weaker binding affinity and faster dissociation from the SUR1 binding site. This increases the concentration of intracellular potassium, which causes the electric potential over the membrane to become more positive. This depolarization opens voltage-gated Ca channels. The rise in intracellular calcium leads to increased fusion of insulin granulae with the cell membrane, and therefore increased secretion of (pro)insulin.