Potentiation of insulin action: a probable mechanism for the anti-diabetic action of sulfonylurea drugs.
Insulin action was assessed by measuring insulin-mediated glucose disposal (KI) in 13 non-ketotic diabetic patients both before treatment and after normalization of plasma glucose by diet (5 patients) or sulfonylurea (glipizide) therapy (8 patients). While the KI of the diet-treated group was unchanged by therapy, that of the glipizide-treated group was significantly increased. The data show that chronic glipizide therapy is associated with a potentiation of insulin action, which may account for the major anti-diabetic effect of this drug.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D005913:Glipizide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds; D005913:Glipizide