Glimepiride - A short term trial of the clinical efficacy

Diabetes is a common disorder and is reaching epidemic proportions especially in the third world. In the last few years new drugs have emerged targeting at better pharmacokinetic and low side effect profile. Among them have been various insulin sensitizers and newer sulfonylurias. Glimepiride with an impressive tract record offered more benefits and improved quality of life. The clinical efficacy in relation to the commonly used or traditional sulfonylurias was thus evaluated in this short term open trial involving 48 patients. The objective was to determine the clinical efficacy, tolerability, side effect profile and the equivalent dose of glimepiride compared to conventional sulphonylurias. The advantages of this new second generation sulfonyluria are discussed

Prevalence of micralbuminuria in diabetics

Our study of 500 patients screened for microalbuminuria at the diabetic centers showed that 64 patients [12.8%] had microalbuminuria. Of these 64 patients, only 7 [about 9%] had type-1 diabetes while the remaining 57 [about 91%] had type-II diabetes. Most of the patients [64.6%] were young and were between the ages of 31 to 50 years, and in most [83.4%] the duration of diabetes was less than 10 years. Amongst the 64 microalbuminuric diabetic patients, 68.75% had microalbuminuria even when the duration of diabetes was less than 10 years. A large number of our patients [90.6%] had microalbuminuria between 20 to 100 micro g/min. These facts emphasize the need to make efforts to aggressively treat these patients at risk of nephropathy at a time where process may still be reversible

short term study of hypoglycemic effects of acarbose in diabetes mellitus

A six weeks trial of Acarbose [Glucobay], a glucoside-hydrolase inhibitor was conducted in 50 uncontrolled diabetic patients attending the Diabetic Clinic at PMRC Research Centre. Ganga Ram Hospital. Lahore. Eighteen patients were newly diagnosed, 18 were taking oral hypoglycaemics and 14 were on insulin therapy. All these patients were given Acarbose either alone [newly diagnosed]] or in combination [those on oral hypoglycaemics or insulin]. The results showed a statistically significant reduction In the blood sugar levels after the intake of Acarbose. Only 3 patients complained of abdominal distension. No other serious side effect was observed and drug was well tolerated. It is concluded that Acarbose can be effectively used as a primary drug or in combination with other hypoglycaemic agents to improve the glycemic control in all types of diabetes mellitus