Comparison of repaglinide and metformin monotherapy as an initial therapy in Chinese patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

BackgroundWe aimed to compare the effect of repaglinide and metformin monotherapy as an initial therapy in Chinese patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Patients and methodsIn this 15-week, open-labelled, parallel-controlled, randomised study, 60 Chinese drug-naive patients with newly diagnosed T2DM were randomised (2:1) to receive repaglinide or metformin monotherapy. Primary endpoint was change in HbA1c from baseline to the end of the trial. Secondary endpoints included changes in glycaemic variability, insulin sensitivity and β-cell function.ResultsPatients in both repaglinide and metformin groups achieved significant reductions in HbA1c (−1.8±1.5 vs −1.6±1.5%), FPG (fasting blood glucose) (−1.7±1.7 vs −2.1±1.7 mmol/l) and 2-h PPG (post-prandial glucose) (−3.8±3.1 vs −3.8±3.6 mmol/l), with no statistical differences between the groups. Glycaemic variability, glucose infusion rate and β-cell function were all significantly improved from baseline in the two groups (allP<0.05), without any statistical differences in the improvement between the groups.ConclusionsRepaglinide and metformin achieved comparable efficacy in improving glycaemic control, reducing glycaemic variability, enhancing insulin sensitivity and ameliorating β-cell function. Therefore, repaglinide is an optional agent for initial therapy in Chinese patients with newly diagnosed T2DM.