Meglitinides are shorter acting than sulfonylureas.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not applicable
• D. They are longer-acting

Answer: (A)

Meglitinides act quickly to stimulate insulin release right around meal times and are cleared from the body relatively fast. This short duration means their glucose-lowering effect tends to last only a few hours, making them well suited to postprandial control and allowing dosing to be aligned with meals. Sulfonylureas, by contrast, have a longer duration of action because they persist longer in the body and continue stimulating insulin release for a longer period. Because of this difference in how long they act, meglitinides are indeed shorter acting than sulfonylureas.