Use of metformin in selected cases of NIDDM: a clinical trial

Abstract

The usefulness of metformin in the management ot diabetes was assessed in 55 NIDDM patients who did not have any contraindications for the use of the drugs. None had evidence of vascular complications or hepatic derangement. Diabetes was under good control in all (PPBS<160 mgs/dl and HbA1 <9%), with diet and a combination of glybenclamide and mettormin. Metformin was with-drawn in all of them and 34 out of 55 patients continued to have good control of glycaemia. In the remaining 21 patients, plasma glucose increased significantly and metformin had to be reintroduced after a mean period of 4 weeks. In 14 of these patients plasma glucose decreased to normal in 2 weeks and in the other 7 the dose had to be increased to higher than the initial one to achieve good control. Thus the study shows that addition of metformin proves useful in selected patients when sulphonylurea alone proves ineffective in control of diabetes.