PHENOBARBITAL TREATMENT ENHANCES INSULIN MEDIATED GLUCOSE-METABOLISM IN MAN

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 44  (2) , 215-226
Abstract
The addition of phenobarbital (PB) to a sulfonylurea regimen improves glucose control in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM, Type 2). A change in insulin sensitivity is possibly involved. Insulin-mediated glucose metabolism was investigated before and after a 10 day course of PB therapy in healthy, nondiabetic subjects using the euglycemic glucose clamp technique. The glucose disposal rate (M) increased from 5.95 .+-. 1.63 mg/kg per min to 8.00 .+-. 1.64 mg/kg per min (P < 0.001), and the immunoreactive insulin (IRI) level decreased from 19.1 .+-. 2.9 mU/l to 15.2 .+-. 4.2 mU/l (P < 0.02); fasting blood glucose values and body weight remained unchanged. The lactate level remained unaltered; the metabolism of lactate to pyruvate improved with PB therapy. PB increases insulin-mediated glucose metabolism. This suggests a new approach to influencing insulin sensitivity in man.