title: The beta cell function in NIDDM patients with secondary failure: a three year follow-up of combined oral hypoglycemic and insulin therapy.
abstract: Eleven Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients, islet cell autoantibodies negative, nonobese with secondary failure to oral hypoglycemic agents (OHA) [glyburide (7.5 mg/day) and phenformin (75 mg/day)] and HbA1c 10.2 +/- 0.6% were studied. Insulin receptors on circulating monocytes, glucose utilization at supraphysiological insulin concentrations, and plasma C-peptide after i.v. glucagon were evaluated before and after 2 months of combined therapy with OHA and insulin (Ultratard HM Novo). A significant improvement was demonstrated in HbA1c and glycemia after two months of treatment. Glucose MCR was increased after two months of treatment whilst basal C-peptide was decreased as well as receptor binding to monocytes. After three years of combined therapy, body weight, glycemia and HbA1c did not increase. After three years the C-peptide basal values were significantly increased with respect to values found after 2 months of therapy. These results demonstrate that insulin treatment may restore insulin sensitivity in NIDDM patients resistant to OHA treatment and that after three years there is no exhaustion of B-cell function.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Clinica Medica, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caputo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertoli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ghirlanda
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin