The Effect of a Very Low Dose of Tolbutamide Combined with an α-Glucosidase Inhibitor in Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

The effect of adding a very low dose of a sulphonylurea (tolbutamide) to the treatment of 10 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) was investigated. Patients took 0.1 mg tds of an α-glucosidase inhibitor orally for 8 weeks, and 50 mg tds of the sulphonylurea, tolbutamide, for the last 4 weeks of this period. The glycosylated haemoglobin level was significantly reduced during the combined treatment period compared with the level after treatment with α-glucosidase inhibitor alone (P = 0.035), although not compared with the pretreatment level. There were no significant changes in postprandial blood glucose, serum lipid levels or connective peptide immunoreactivities. These preliminary results indicate that the addition of a very low dose of tolbutamide to a recommended diet and treatment with an α-glucosidase inhibitor, may improve glucose metabolism without raising insulin secretion or influencing lipid metabolism.