NCLEX Review (Diabetes Mellitus)

Tolbutamide (Orinase) is believed to lower blood glucose level by:

1.) potentiating the action of insulin
2.)lowering the renal threshold of glucose
3.) stimulating pancreatic cells to release insulin
4.) combining with glucose to render it inert

Answer: 3.) Oral hypoglycemic agents of the sulfonylurea group, such as tolbutamide (Orinase), lower blood glucose level by stimulating pancreatic cells to release insulin. These agents also increase insulin's ability to bind to the body's cells, thereby increasing the number of insulin receptors in the body.