Hypoglycemic Effect of Strychnos Potatorum Linn were Compared with Glipizide on Male Diabetic Rats.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the antidiabetic effect of Strychnos Potatorum Linn (S.P. Linn) on streptozotocin induced male diabetic rats. Method: Male albino rats (150-200 gm) were made diabetic by a single intraperitoneal injection of Streptozotocin (STZ) at a fixed dose of 40 mg/kg body weight. Animals were then given either the test drug or the standard control drug i.e. glipizide orally and the effects on fasting blood glucose level, body weight, food and water intake were recorded and compared with the standard drug. Results: The test drug S. P. Linn reduces blood sugar significantly in STZ induced diabetic male rats which is comparable to that of glipizied. Conclusion: S.P. Linn has antidiabetic action as it significantly reduces blood sugar level in male diabetic rats.

Serum insulin assay: an important therapeutic tool in management of freshly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVES: The study was performed to see that, whether metabolic control and response to treatment in freshly diagnosed patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus is affected by primary pathology (hyperinsulinemia/inappropriate insulin secretion). METHODS: One hundred and eight freshly diagnosed patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus with age range from 30-65 years were followed for a period of three months. The blood glucose, serum triglyceride, and serum insulin levels were determined in each patient. Patients were found to have either higher or normal to low serum insulin values at fasting, and accordingly patients were distributed into two groups; group one (normal to low initial fasting serum insulin level i.e. < or = 30 microU/ml) and group two (high fasting serum insulin level i.e. > or = 30 microU/ml). Each group was further divided into two subgroups A and B. Subgroup A was treated with glipizide and B with metformin. RESULTS: Diabetic patients who had fasting hyperinsulinemia (n = 53, 100%) had blood pressure > or = 140/90 at the time of presentation. Patients who had fasting serum insulin within normal range only 30% (n = 17) had hypertension. Patients of group one had good recovery from hyperglycemia and reduction in triglyceride values when treated with sulphonylurea (subgroup A) as compared to patients treated with biguanide (subgroup B). On the contrary patients of group two showed poor glycemic control, increase in blood pressure and rise in serum triglyceride titre when treated with sulphonylurea (subgroup A) while in the same group biguanide effectively produced euglycemia with normalization of blood pressure and decrease in triglyceride levels (subgroup B). CONCLUSION: Assessment of initial serum insulin levels is helpful guide to decide about the type of oral hypoglycemic agent to be used in freshly diagnosed patients to type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Effect of bed time intermediate acting insulin in NIDDM subjects refractory to a combination of sulphonylureas and biguanides.

The effect of a single dose of intermediate acting (Lente) insulin given subcutaneously at 9.00 P.M. in 22 NIDDM subjects refractory to a combination of Sulphonylureas and Biguanides was analysed. Euglycemia was achieved and maintained during the study period of three months with a mean insulin requirement of 14.22 +/- 5.98 units/day. Plasma FFA, Total cholesterol, triglyceride and VLDL-cholesterol also showed significant reduction. The level of FFA modulates hepatic glucose production, which in turn correlates positively with the fasting blood glucose. The therapeutic modality of bed time Lente Insulin based on physiological principles is an effective way of achieving glycemic control in NIDDM subjects who have become non-responsive to oral hypoglycemic agents.