Methods:

• A total number of 180 T2DM patients were randomly allocated for treatment with placebo (control), metformin (500 mg twice daily), glimepiride (3mg once daily), gliclazide (80 mg once daily), metformin plus glimepiride or metformin plus gliclazide for 3 months
• The plasma levels of glucose (PG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), Hcy, vitamin B12, folic acid and lipid profile before treatment and 3 months post treatment were evaluated

"Combination of glimepiride with metformin was superior to gliclazide plus metformin in alleviating the cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus"

Results:

Results of the study divulged that glimepiride plus metformin induced significant reductions in fasting plasma glucose, postprandial PG level, HbA1C % and Hcy level compared to metformin treated patients. On the other hand, plasma folic acid and vitamin B12 were considerably increased. Moreover, the levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly reduced; low-density lipoprotein was markedly decreased, while high-density lipoprotein was significantly increased and consequently risk ratio was decreased. Comparable results were obtained using combination of metformin plus gliclazide on glycemic control only but with lower values.

Conclusion:

It was thus concluded that combination of glimepiride with metformin was superior to gliclazide plus metformin in alleviating the cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Source: Hassan MH, Abd-Allah GM. Effects of metformin plus gliclazide versus metformin plus glimepiride on cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Pak J Pharm Sci. 2015 Sep;28(5):1723-30.