Genetic Variants Replication Study Associated With Dependence on Sulfonylurea in Participants With Type 2 Diabetes

Sulfonylurea, one of the oral hypoglycemic agents, is the oldest and most widely used drug. The use of sulfonylurea was overwhelming compared to metformin especially in East Asia, where insulin secretion was notable during the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes. However, sulfonylurea causes hypoglycemia and weight gain, increases cardiovascular disease and mortality compared to other oral preparations. With the recent development of other oral hypoglycemic agents for lowering blood glucose without the risk of hypoglycemia and with cardiovascular protection, sulfonylurea is in a decreasing state of use worldwide.

But some patients tend to be highly dependent on sulfonylurea for blood glucose control. It suggests that there will be a group of patients whose the action of sulfonylurea is strongly influenced by genetic factor, since insulin secretion of pancreatic beta cells is very hereditary, genetic variations that increase the risk of type 2 diabetes are found mainly in genes related to beta cell dysfunction rather than insulin resistance, and the more risk variants of type 2 diabetes, the less likely the effect of sulfonylurea is.

The investigators had performed whole exome sequencing in patients showing dependence on sulfonylurea and identified tens of candidate variants.

In this study, the investigators will select patients with dependence on sulfonylurea by prospective intervention (by discontinuing and resuming sulfonylurea) and perform genetic tests.