To compare the efficacy and safety profile of sitagliptin and glimipiride in type 2 diabetic patients.

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the efficacy and safety profile of sitagliptin vs. glimepiride in type 2 diabetic patients. Study Design: Comparative study. Setting: At Islam Central Hospital, Sialkot at its Medical outdoor unit. Period: 16 week from September to December 2018. Materials & Methods: In which Type 2 diabetic patients (n=220) were randomly placed into interventional groups to prescribed either sitagliptin or glimepiride for an interval of 16 weeks. A blood sugar level was maintained by dose titration in both groups. The main end point was change in FBG & HbA1C while additional end point was change in body weight, hypoglycemic episodes and gastrointestinal adverse effects from baseline by using SPPS 16. Results: After 16 weeks of treatment both sitagliptin and glimepiride caused a significant improvement (P<0.001) in glycemic control by reducing FBG (-22±3.2 &-33.5±4.4) & HbA1c (0.78±0.3 & 1.12±0.25) respectively. However when comparison was done between two group, glimepiride has more pronounced effect on glycemic control as compared to sitagliptin (P<0.001). Net BMI reduced to 0.8±0.68 in sitagliptin group while net BMI increased to 1.1±0.78 in glimepiride treated group with (P<0.001). There were no adverse effects reported in sitagliptin treated group while 25 hypoglycemic episodes were noticed in glimepiride treated group. Conclusion: Glimepiride has more pronounced effect on glycemic control as compared to sitagliptin. However this pronounced effect was associated with more hypoglycemic episodes and weight gain. Euglycemic effect and weight reducing property of sitagliptin precludes that it has better safety and tolerability profile in comparison with glimepiride.