The Role of Repaglinide in the Treatment of Secondary Sulphonylureas Failure

Abstract

Background: About [ 20%-25%] of type 2 diabetes patients are unresponsive to sulphonylureas (primary failure) and an additional 5%-10% of patients each year become unresponsive (secondary failure).Objective: Assessment of the efficacy of repaglinide in the treatment of secondary sulphonylurea failure.Patients and Method: 48 patients with type 2 DM who failed to respond to a combination of full dose of glibenclamide and metformin are put on combination of repaglinide (3mg/day) and metformin and blood glucose is monitored for 9-11 weeks.Results: 12 patients [25%] out of 48 patients with secondary sulphonylureas failure obtained good glycemic control with repaglinide.Conclusion: Repaglinide can induce good glycemic control in some patients with secondary sulphonylureas failure.