Comparative study of efficacy of glimepiride and metformin versus glibenclamide and metformin for type 2 diabetic patients

Diabetes Mellitus is a syndrome with disordered metabolism and inappropriate hyperglycemia due to either a deficiency of insulin secretion or to a combination of insulin resistance and inadequate secretion to compensate. Type 2 diabetes is the most prevalent form and results from insulin resistance with a defect in compensatory insulin secretion. The study aims to compare the clinical efficacy of glimepiride plus metformin versus glibenclamide plus metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to assess the percentage reduction in fasting plasma glucose, post prandial glucose levels and HbA1C. A prospective observational study conducted for a period of 6 months. We included 96 type 2 diabetic patients in which 52 patients were taking glimepiride plus metformin (group A) and 44 patients were taking glibenclamide plus metformin (group B). A 'p' value of < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. The primary efficacy was measured by comparing HbA1C, FBS, PPBS and serum cholesterol level. After 6 months of treatment the HbA1C value decreased more significantly in group A (1.6%) than group B (1.29%), PPBS and cholesterol level also reduced more significantly in group A patients. But FBS value was more significantly reduced in group B patients. Glimepiride plus metformin combination therapy can be considered as the best combination in patients with increased glycaemic control as compared to glibenclamide plus metformin therapy.