[Mechanisms of action of repaglinide at a cellular level]

In type 2 diabetic patients, the important post-prandial hyperglycemic peak combined with the defective insulin secretion emphasizes the need for restoring a physiological insulin profile during meals, characterized by insulinemia peaking within 1 hour and returning to basal levels within 4 hours. During type 1 diabetes mellitus, short acting insulin analogs aim at counteracting on post-prandial hyperglycemic peak. During type 2 diabetes mellitus, repaglinide is the first fast-acting oral antidiabetic drug able to stimulate endogenous insulin secretion during meal by mimicking physiological insulin secretion pattern.