Prevention of weight gain in type 2 diabetes requiring insulin treatment.
BACKGROUND
Patients with type 2 diabetes who are failing on oral agents will generally gain a large amount of body fat when switched to insulin treatment. This adverse effect may be related to chronic hyperinsulinism induced by long-acting insulin compounds.


OBJECTIVE
To test the concept that regain of glycaemic control can be achieved without causing weight gain, using a regimen free of long-acting insulin.


METHODS
In a 3-month open-label pilot study including 25 patients with moderate overweight and secondary failure, we investigated whether nocturnal glycaemic control could be achieved with glimepiride administered at 20:00 hours. The starting dose was 1-2 mg, with subsequent titration up to a maximum of 6 mg. Rapid-acting insulin analogues were used three times daily to regain postprandial glucose control.


RESULTS
Glycaemic control at 3 months was established with glimepiride in a dose of 4.4 +/- 0.3 mg/day (mean +/- standard error of the mean), and a total daily insulin dose of 24.1 +/- 2.6 IU. Fasting glucose levels decreased from 12.7 +/- 0.6 mmol/l to 8.1 +/- 0.3 mmol/l (p < 0.001), and target levels were reached in 14 of 25 patients (56%). Mean HbA1c decreased from 10.5 +/- 0.4 to 7.7 +/- 0.2% (p < 0.001). Symptomatic nocturnal hypoglycaemia was not reported. Body weight did not change (85.7 +/- 3.6 kg vs. 85.7 +/- 3.3 kg, p = 0.99).


CONCLUSIONS
The data suggest that this new approach may be useful in about 50% of type 2 diabetes patients presenting with failure on maximal oral treatment.
de Boer
H
H
Department of Internal Medicine, Ziekenhuis Rijnstate Arnhem, Arnhem, The Netherlands. hdeboer@alysis.nl
Jansen
M
M
Koerts
J
J
Verschoor
L
L
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015430:Weight Gain
D001786:Blood Glucose; D002096:C-Peptide; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds; C057619:glimepiride; D008687:Metformin