Glipizide improves plasma C-peptide level over a three year period after diagnosis of type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Twenty type 2 diabetic patients treated with glipizide monotherapy were followed for a period of three years. Fasting and postprandial plasma glucose values, glycosylated haemoglobin and fasting and stimulated C-peptide levels were measured annually. At the end of three years, there was a significant reduction in fasting plasma glucose (p = 0.002), post prandial plasma glucose (p = 0.001) and glycosylated hemoglobin levels (p < 0.001). The fasting and stimulated C-peptide levels increased from 0.4 pmol/l to 0.8 ± 0.4 pmol/l (p = 0.045) and 0.9 pmol/l to 1.4 pmol/l (p = 0.028) respectively. The study shows that after glipizide monotherapy for first three years after diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, the pancreatic beta cell reserve is not only preserved but also marginally improved.