Effect of metformin on insulin receptor binding and glycaemic control in type II diabetes

To investigate the effect of metformin on insulin receptor binding and diabetic control, eight obese type II diabetic patients were studied before treatment, after one and four weeks of taking metformin (500 mg thrice daily), and four weeks after withdrawal of the drug. After one and four weeks of t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMJ 1983-03, Vol.286 (6368), p.830-831
Main Authors: Lord, J M, White, S I, Bailey, C J, Atkins, T W, Fletcher, R F, Taylor, K G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Blood Glucose - metabolism
Blood plasma
Clinical Research
Diabetes complications
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes Mellitus - blood
Diabetes Mellitus - drug therapy
Diabetic diets
Erythrocytes
Erythrocytes - drug effects
Erythrocytes - metabolism
Female
Hemoglobin A - analysis
Humans
Insulin
Male
Metformin - therapeutic use
Middle Aged
Obesity
Pretreatment
Receptor, Insulin - drug effects
Receptor, Insulin - metabolism
Receptors
Type 2 diabetes mellitus
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Summary:To investigate the effect of metformin on insulin receptor binding and diabetic control, eight obese type II diabetic patients were studied before treatment, after one and four weeks of taking metformin (500 mg thrice daily), and four weeks after withdrawal of the drug. After one and four weeks of treatment the number of erythrocyte insulin receptors had increased by 116% and 184% respectively. This was due almost entirely to an increase in the number of low affinity binding sites. The number of receptors was still raised four weeks after metformin had been withdrawn. Diabetic control as assessed by urinary glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1), and glucose tolerance values was significantly improved during metformin treatment, while plasma insulin concentrations were not altered. These results indicate that metformin produces a rapid and protracted increase in low affinity insulin receptors in type II diabetes, associated with greater insulin sensitivity and improved diabetic control.
ISSN:0007-1447
0267-0623
0959-8138
1468-5833
DOI:10.1136/bmj.286.6368.830