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The Effects of Dexfenfluramine on Blood Glucose Control in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Author(s) -
Willey Karen A.,
Molyneaux L. M.,
Overland J. E.,
Yue D. K.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
diabetic medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.474
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1464-5491
pISSN - 0742-3071
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-5491.1992.tb01793.x
Subject(s) - medicine , dexfenfluramine , diabetes mellitus , type 2 diabetes , endocrinology , fenfluramine , receptor , serotonin
Dexfenfluramine has been shown to promote weight loss in overweight people. The present double‐blind study was designed to test whether the addition of dexfenfluramine to conventional oral hypoglycaemic treatment would promote weight loss and improve blood glucose control in overweight patients with Type 2 diabetes. The 34 patients studied were randomly assigned to dexfenfluramine or placebo therapy which was added for 12 weeks to their existing treatment regimens of metformin with or without a sulphonylurea. Dexfenfluramine treatment was associated with a significant reduction in weight (98.7 ± 5.0 (± SE) vs 94.9 ± 5.2 kg; p <0.001), BMI (35.0 ± 1.2 vs 33.6 ± 1.9 kg m −2 ; p < 0.001), HbA 1c (7.5 ± 0.3 vs 6.3 ± 0.2%; p < 0.001), fructosamine (313.9 ± 17.6 vs 274.3 ± 10.4 μmol I −1 ; p < 0.01), systolic (137 ± 5 vs 128 ± 6 mmHg; p < 0.05), and diastolic blood pressure (85 ± 2 vs 73 ± 3 mmHg; p < 0.001). At the end of the study period, the dexfenfluramine treated group had a significantly lower HbA 1c (6.3 ± 0.2 vs 7.2 ± 0.4; p <0.05), fructosamine level (274.3 ± 10.4 vs 313.3 ± 16.1 μmol I −1 ; p < 0.05) and diastolic blood pressure (73 ± 3 vs 81 ± 3 mmHg; p < 0.03) when compared with the placebo group. In those patients treated with dexfenfluramine, the reduction in HbA 1c and blood pressure did not correlate with the decrease in BMI ( r = 0.44 and 0.12, respectively). Dexfenfluramine is a valuable adjunct to the treatment of the overweight patient with Type 2 diabetes.