Glibenclamide and gliquidone in the treatment of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

The effect of glibenclamide and gliquidone on fasting blood glucose, 24-hour urinary glucose excretion, HbA1 concentrations and on the blood glucose and plasma insulin responses to an oral glucose load were investigated in 11 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The study was carried out as an open, ambulatory, cross-over trial during 24 weeks. After a 4-week diet period the patients were randomly allocated to treatment with either glibenclamide or gliquidone. After a 8-week period on a constant drug dose, they switched over to the corresponding dose of the other drug, each patient thus being his own control. Glibenclamide and gliquidone reduced fasting blood glucose values (p less than 0.001), diurnal urine glucose concentrations (p less than 0.001, resp. p less than 0.01) and HbA1 concentrations (p less than 0.02 resp. p less than 0.05) compared to the values in the diet period. Glibenclamide proved more effective than gliquidone in lowering fasting blood glucose concentrations (p less than 0.01), but no difference in 24-hour urine glucose and HbA1 concentrations was seen between the two drugs. Glibenclamide and gliquidone improved the glucose tolerance after an oral glucose load (p less than 0.01 resp. p less than 0.05) compared to diet values. The improved glucose tolerance during sulfonylurea treatment was, however, not associated with significant changes in insulin levels.