The effects of glibenclamide on serum lipids and lipoproteins in type II non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of glibenclamide treatment on plasma lipids and lipoprotein levels. SETTINGS Out patients of Type II diabetics from department of Baqai Diabetes and Endocrine Centre and two other diabetic clinics of Karachi. METHODS The effects of glibenclamide on blood glucose and various aspects of lipoproteins has been studied in 26 (14 male, 12 female) Type II Diapetes patients before and after 12 weeks of glibenclamide therapy. Treatment was initiated with 5 mg oral glibenclamide with diet control. The initial dosage of glibenclamide was 5 mg/day taken half an hour before meal; this was increased to 5 mg per week and was adjusted according to the patient's tolerance to the drug and their glycemic control. RESULTS The results demonstrated that fasting blood glucose declined from 221.53 + 7.84 to 165.02 + 5.12 mg/dl, (P < 0.001). There was a statistically significant increase in the plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol from 33.60 + 1.00 to 37.07 + 1.05 mg/dl, (P << 0.05). Total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol did not change significantly. CONCLUSION Improved glycaemic control in patients treated with glibenclamide with Type II Diabetes was achieved which lead to changes in lipoprotein metabolism. There was no evidence of changes in lipoproteins in directions associated with an increased risk for atherosclerosis.