Efficacy of glimepiride/metformin fixed-dose combination vs metformin uptitration in type 2 diabetic patients inadequately controlled on low-dose metformin monotherapy: A randomized, open label, parallel group, multicenter study in Korea

Hye soon Kim, Doo man Kim, Bong soo Cha, Tae Sun Park, Kyoung ah Kim, Dong lim Kim, Choon Hee Chung, Jeong hyun Park, Hak Chul Jang, Dong seop Choi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aims/Introduction: To compare the efficacy and safety of early combination therapy with glimepiride/metformin to metformin uptitration in reducing glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in Korean type 2 diabetic patients inadequately controlled on low-dose metformin monotherapy. Materials and Methods: In a randomized, open label, parallel group, multicenter study, 209 Korean type 2 diabetic patients (HbA1c 7.0-10.0%, on metformin 500-1,000 mg/day) received glimepiride/metformin fixed-dose combination (G/M FDC) or metformin uptitration treatment (Met UP). The primary end-point was the change in HbA1c from baseline to week 24. Results: G/M FDC therapy provided significantly greater adjusted mean decreases vs Met UP therapy in HbA1c (-1.2 vs -0.8%, P < 0.0001), and fasting plasma glucose (-35.7 vs -18.6 mg/dL, P < 0.0001). A significantly greater proportion of patients with G/M FDC therapy achieved HbA1c < 7% (74.7 vs 46.6%, P < 0.0001) at the end of the study. More patients experienced hypoglycemia with G/M FDC therapy compared with Met UP therapy (41 vs 5.6%, P < 0.0001), but there was no serious hypoglycemia in any group. A modest increase in mean bodyweight occurred in the patients who were treated with G/M FDC therapy (1.0 kg), whereas a slight decrease was observed in the patients who were treated with Met UP therapy (-0.7 kg). Conclusion: The present study showed that glimepiride/metformin fixed-dose combination therapy was more effective in glycemic control than metformin uptitration, and was well tolerated in type 2 diabetic patients inadequately controlled by low-dose metformin monotherapy in Korea. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrial.gov (no. NCT00612144).

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)701-708
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Diabetes Investigation
Volume5
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Nov 2014

Keywords

  • Glimepiride/metformin combination
  • Korea
  • Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Efficacy of glimepiride/metformin fixed-dose combination vs metformin uptitration in type 2 diabetic patients inadequately controlled on low-dose metformin monotherapy: A randomized, open label, parallel group, multicenter study in Korea'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this