Effects of Glimepiride on metabolic parameters and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus

BackgroundTo investigate the effects of Glimepiride on blood glucose in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in connection with plasma lipoproteins and plasminogen activity.MethodsA total of 565 T2DM patients were received Glimepiride (n = 333) or Glibenclamide (n = 232) for 12 weeks. We observed the level of blood glucose (BG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), the insulin resistance (IR) state, plasma lipoproteins, tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type I (PAI-1) before and after a 12 weeks of treatment.ResultsAfter 12 weeks with Glimepiride treatment, significant reductions were observed in fasting blood glucose (FBG) and 2-h postprandial BG(PBG), HbA1C (from 8.60 ± 3.10 to 7.10 ± 1.60%) and HOMA-IR (from 4.11 ± 0.85 to 2.42 ± 0.91%). The level of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were significantly decreased, whereas that of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was increased markedly with statistical significance. In addition, there was an obvious improvement in t-PA activity (from 0.225 ± 0.11 to 0.457 ± 0.177 IU/ml); whereas the PAI-1 activity was decreased significantly (from 0.898 ± 0.168 to 0.533 ± 0.215 AU/ml). No significant changes were observed in plasma lipoprotein profiles and plasminogen activity in Glibenclamide receiving group.ConclusionsGlimepiride can rapidly and stably improve glycemic control and lipoprotein metabolism, significantly alleviate insulin resistance and enhance fibrinolytic activity.