Effect of glimepiride compared with glibenclamide on post prandial blood sugar in type II diabetes mellitus patients

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a major public health problem with many complications. The Global Burden of Diabetes Study has projected that there will be a 122% increase in the number of people with diabetes mellitus worldwide in 2025 compared to 1995. Despite the availability of new agents for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus oral sulfonylureas remain a cornerstone of therapy. Glibenclamide and glimepiride are widely used sulfonylurea antidiabetic drugs. Methods: A randomized, open, parallel group study was conducted by the Department of Pharmacology in association with Department of Medicine at Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Medical Sciences & Research (MMIMSR), Mullana, Ambala. Total 50 patients were divided into two groups I & II. In Group I (n=25) glibenclamide (5-15 mg/day) & in Group II (n=25) glimepiride (1-6mg/day) was administered for a period of 24 weeks and data analyzed by Student’s “t”- test. Results: There was a significant improvement in the post prandial blood sugar score (p0.05) between the two groups. Conclusions: Both the drugs glibenclamide and glimepiride were effectively reduced post prandial blood sugar in both the groups. But these sulfonylurea drugs lowered post prandial blood sugar to a similar degree without significant difference between the two groups. [Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol 2014; 3(1.000): 96-99]