Purpose: To examine body mass index
(BMI), occupation, sex, age, and duration of therapy as
contributory factors in treatment failure in type 2
diabetic patients taking metformin and glibenclamide in
a tertiary hospital in Northwestern Nigeria.
Method: A retrospective case
control study was employed where variables (age, sex,
body mass index, tribe, duration of therapy, glycaemic
profile and occupation) for a total of 520 type 2
diabetic patients that took metformin and glibenclamide
for a minimum of 1 year were examined. Patients were
classified into two groups based on progression to
triple oral therapy or a switch from metformin and
glibenclamide therapy.
Results: Of the 520 patients
analysed, 276 failed treatment. Over 90 % of the
patients were > 40 years while 61 % had been on
treatment for > 4 years. The subjects’ mean age was
53.22 ± 9.03 years. The mean population body mass index
(BMI) was 27 kg/m2. Housewives comprised more
than half of the population (55.5 %). The mean fasting
blood glucose and 2 h post prandial blood glucose levels
of group 1 were 5.99 ± 0.67 mmol/L and 8.76 ± 2.19 mmol/L
respectively while the corresponding values for group 2
were 12.55 ± 4.12 mmol/L and 18.42 ± 5.3 mmol/L,
respectively.
Conclusion: Progressive deterioration
in pancreatic ß-cell function, BMI > 28 kg/m2,
advancing age, and young age at diagnosis were
identified as contributory factors to the development of
secondary failure in type 2 diabetics receiving
metformin and glibenclamide.
Keywords: Diabetes, Glibenclamide,
Metformin, Pancreatic ß-cell function, Treatment failure
