[Comparison of two treatment models in type-II diabetic patients with poor metabolic control: Preformed combination of glibenclamide 2,5 mg + metformin 400 mg or mono-therapy with sulfonylurea at maximal doses? An evaluation at six months]

Abstract

Both glibenclamide and metformin have been used alone or in association for many years. In the treatment of type 2 or non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM). Glibenclamide stimulates insulin release by pancreatic beta cells (pancreatic attachment point), while metformin acts at a peripheral level by increasing glucose absorption in muscular, fatty and hepatic tissues, thus considerably reducing insulin resistance (extra-pancreatic attachment point). The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of the pre-formed association of glibenclamide 2.5 mg+metformin 400 mg (treatment group 1) compared to treatment with glibenclamide 5 mg alone (treatment group 2) at almost double therapeutic doses compared to those contained in the association. A total of 40 NIDDM patients were examined (24 females and 16 males) with a mean age of 55.86 years, a mean duration of disease of 9.37 years, generally obese or overweight. From the final results of the study it was found that the associative therapy of glibenclamide 2.5 mg+metformin 400 mg was very advantageous, leading to a significant improvement in the glycometabolic control (HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose) compared to patients treated using single drug therapy who maintained almost stable control of the disease.