More than 29 million people in the United States have diabetes [10]. As such, millions of Americans currently take diabetes medication.
Over half of all medications for diabetes, including the majority of oral hypoglycemic medications, are metabolized by two enzymes in the liver called CYP2C9 and CYP2C19. [11]
Population Frequency of Cytochrome P450 (CYP) Metabolizer Types [3]
| Poor (no or low enzyme levels) |
Intermediate (reduced enzyme levels) |
Normal (normal enzyme levels) |
Rapid or Ultra Rapid Metabolizer (high enzyme levels) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CYP2C9 | 3% | 30% | 68% | N/A |
| CYP2C19 | 2-20% | 24-36% | 14-44% | 30% |
*CYP2C19 variability depends on ethnicity.
*CYP2D6 Variability depends on ethnicity and classification of Intermediate activity