FDA Approves Amylin's Symlin

Symlin (pramlintide) is a antihyperglycemic agent.

It is designed to mimic the activity of the naturally occurring hormone amylin, which is secreted together with insulin and is involved in post-prandial glucose control.
Symlin is specifically indicated for the mealtime treatment of Type I and Type II diabetes in combination with standard insulin therapy, in patients who have failed to achieve adequate glucose control on insulin monotherapy. It can be administered to type II diabetics also on metformin or sulfonylurea therapy.

Symlin is an injectable medication used with mealtime insulin to control blood sugar in adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Symlin slows down the movement of food through your stomach, which affects how fast sugar enters your blood after eating. Symlin is always used with insulin to help lower blood sugar during the 3 hours after meals.

Symlin (pramlintide) is a man-made form of a hormone that occurs naturally in the body. Symlin lowers blood sugar in three ways. It slows the rate that food moves from your stomach to your intestines, which keeps your blood sugar from rising too fast. Symlin also lowers the amount of glucose (sugar) your liver produces. Lastly, it triggers the feeling of fullness after meals to help control your appetite and decrease how much food you eat.

Symlin is used together with insulin to treat type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Function
Symlin contains the amino acid amylin, which decreases the speed that food leaves your stomach to move to your small intestine for absorption and decreases your appetite. Amylin also prevents your liver from producing sugar.
Effects
With both type 1 and 2 diabetes, slower emptying of the stomach means that sugar from the food you eat is released into your bloodstream more slowly, causing less of an impact on your blood sugar level. When your liver produces less sugar, it is also easier for you to control your blood sugar.