Glimepiride (0.5 mg/day) Administration Improves Glycemic Control without Weight Gain in Japanese Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Abstract

Glimepiride, a sulfonylurea, is widely used at doses from 1 mg to 6mg to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Doses of 0.5 mg per day are not normally considered as initial therapy and have not, to our knowledge, been formally studied in this setting. We designed a study to determine the efficacy and safety of glimepiride at 0.5 mg per day as first-line medical therapy for Japanese patients with mild T2DM (6.5%≤HbA₁c<8.0%). Of 40 patients enrolled, 37 were evaluated for efficacy. Mean HbA₁c decreased from 7.2% at baseline to 6.4% at 4 months; 54.5% of patients achieved HbA₁c of<6.5% following treatment with a fixed dose of 0.5 mg/day for 4 months. Average weight did not change. Four cases of hypoglycemia occurred (1 asymptomatic, 3 symptomatic) but none was severe. No cases of hypoglycemia occurred within the first month of treatment. In conclusion, glimepiride at 0.5 mg per day is safe and effective as first-line medical treatment for patients with mild T2DM, reducing HbA₁c with very few hypoglycemic symptoms and no weight gain.