title: Pheniformin in insulin-dependent diabetics.
abstract: Forty-one diabetic patients on insulin were given 100mg. of phenformin daily for six weeks, either before or after a period of six weeks of inert capsules, in a double-blind cross-over trial. Eleven patients while on phenformin noticed hypoglycaemic effects and reduced their insulin on average by almost 20% without resultant rise in blood sugar levels. Twenty-eight patients felt no untoward effects and maintained their usual insulin dose. Phenformin led to improved control of the diabetes, with a significant decrease in blood sugar levels and a significant reduction in the variability of the weekly blood sugar readings. There was no increased ketosis, no change in cholesterol, and no significant loss of weight.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010629:Phenformin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D002784:Cholesterol; D010629:Phenformin