EFFICACY OF COMBINATION THERAPY IN NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS

Secondary failure of oral hypoglycaemic agents raises the dilemma of w hether to institute therapy with insulin alone, or in combination, We reviewed our experience of combination therapy following secondary fai lure of oral hypoglycaemic therapy, Seventeen subjects were receiving combination therapy for 6 months or more, Such treatment was associate d with a significant fall in HbA(1)C-from 10.7+/-0.38 per cent to 8.3/-0.35 per cent (p<0.01) after 6 months and remained significantly red uced at 12 months (8.7+/-0.34 per cent (p<0.01)), Mean body weight, sy stolic and diastolic blood pressure were unchanged during treatment wi th adjuvant insulin therapy, Insulin therapy is a useful adjunct in th e daily management of subjects with NIDDM who experience secondary fai lure of oral hypoglycaemic agents.