Gliclazide therapy is associated with potentiation of postbinding insulin action in obese, non-insulin-dependent diabetic subjects

Abstract

Six obese, non-insulin-dependent diabetic subjects were studied before and 3 mo after treatment with the sulfonylurea gliclazide, 40-80 mg b.i.d. Fasting plasma glucose fell significantly from 13.4 ± 1.6 (SEM) to 8.6 ± 1.2 mmol/L, accompanied by a significant reduction from 40.6 ± 3.7 to 29.8 ± 2.8 mM · h of the plasma glucose response to 75 g oral glucose. Fasting plasma insulin showed a nonsignificant increase from 24.8 ± 2.0 to 31.3 ± 2.3 mU/L. The percent specific binding of tracer 125I-insulin to erythrocytes and monocytes did not change significantly (from 9.8 ± 1.7 to 8.5 ± 0.7 for erythrocytes and 1.7 ± 0.3 to 1.6 ± 0.4 for monocytes). Glucose utilization was measured at three levels..