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Insulin‐Metformin Combination Therapy in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Author(s) -
Jaber Linda A.,
Nowak Sandra N.,
Slaughter Richard R.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
the journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.92
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1552-4604
pISSN - 0091-2700
DOI - 10.1177/0091270002042001010
Subject(s) - metformin , medicine , insulin , glycated hemoglobin , glycemic , endocrinology , type 2 diabetes , diabetes mellitus , type 2 diabetes mellitus , combination therapy
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of insulinmetformin combination therapy compared to insulin monotherapy in obese, insulin‐requiring patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Eighteen patients uncontrolled on ≥ 70 U/day of insulin monotherapy were investigated in this prospective, open‐label study. Patients continued their previous insulin and dietary regimens for 4 weeks, after which metformin was added with doses titrated to achieve a fasting plasma glucose (FPG) < 7.8 mmol/l or until the maximum daily dose was reached. Insulin‐metformin combination therapy was continued for an additional 8 weeks. Insulin‐metformin combination therapy resulted in a significant decrease in glycated hemoglobin values with a final mean reduction of 1.5% ± 1.2% (p = 0.001). FPG decreased significantly (p < 0.005) by week4 of insulin‐metformin therapy, but the change was not statistically significant by week 12, and daily insulin requirements were significantly reduced during combination therapy (p < 0.05). These results suggest that in obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus receiving ≥ 70 U of daily insulin, the addition of metformin leads to improved glycemic control with lower daily doses of insulin and without adverse effects.