Glimepiride vs glibenclamide in treating type 2 diabetes

AIM: To study the efficacy, adverse reactions of glimepiride in treating type 2 diabetes and its effect on insulin secretion. METHODS: Sixty seven patients with type 2 diabetes were divided into two groups.Thirty three patients(F 15, M 18; age(51± s 4a )of glimepiride group were treated with glimepiride 1 mg, po , qd at early dose and 34 patients(F 16, M 18; age (51±5) a) of glibenclamide group were treated with glibenclamide 2.5 mg, po , qd at early dose. The dose was regulated according to blood glucose. Blood glucose, insulin, and HbA1c were measured before and after 12 wk treatment. RESULTS: After 12 wk treatment in glimepiride group FBG, PBG and HbA1c lowered significantly ((2.5±0.4) mmol·L -1 ,(3.72±0.06) mmol·L -1 ,and (1.57±0.05)%, P 0.01); raised fasting insulin level was not significantly different((0.8+0.4)mU·L -1 , P0.05 );post prandial 2 h insulin level raised significantly ((13.5±2.2)mU·L -1 , P 0.01), these results were similar to those of glibenclamide group( P0.05 ).But in glibenclamide group post prandial 2 h insulin level was significant higher than that in glimpiride group((37±4)mU·L -1 vs (34±4)mU·L -1 , P0.01 ). CONCLUSION: Glimepiride is an effective and safe hypoglycemic agent. Glimepiride has stronger extrapancreatic mechanism of lowering blood glucose than glibenclamide.