Which drug is an amylin mimetic that complements insulin?

• A. Pramlintide
• B. Liraglutide
• C. Canagliflozin
• D. Colesevelam

Answer: (A)

Amylin mimetics work with insulin to sharpen post-meal glucose control by replacing the hormone amylin, which is released with insulin. Amylin slows how quickly food leaves the stomach, dampens the glucagon rise after a meal, and helps you feel full sooner. Adding a synthetic amylin analog like pramlintide to insulin therapy provides better control of postprandial glucose and can reduce peak blood sugar after meals. Pramlintide is used specifically as an adjunct to insulin, given by subcutaneous injection before meals, with dosing considerations to limit hypoglycemia when starting.

Liraglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist and lowers glucose through a different hormonal pathway, including stimulate insulin release in response to meals and slowing gastric emptying, but it’s not an amylin mimetic. Canagliflozin is an SGLT2 inhibitor that lowers glucose by increasing urinary glucose excretion. Colesevelam is a lipid-lowering agent (a bile acid sequestrant) and has no role as an amylin mimetic. Therefore, the drug that best fits as an amylin mimetic complement to insulin is pramlintide.