Usage of Glimepiride/Metformin Fixed-dose Combination with Insulin in Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An Indian Experience

MA Karmur; Pradeep G Talwalkar; Pravin Dinkar Supe; Sonali A Patange; Sonali Bhojane; Roopal Panchani; Shardul Kothary; Samrat D Shah; Sujit Chandratreya; Ashish Prasad; Mayuri Talathi

Usage of Glimepiride/Metformin Fixed-dose Combination with Insulin in Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An Indian Experience

Authors

MA Karmur Saurashtra Diabetes Centre, Rajkot, Gujarat, India
Pradeep G Talwalkar Consulting Diabetologist, Talwalkar Diabetes Clinic, Dadar West, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Pravin Dinkar Supe MD Founder, Supe Heart & Diabetes Hospital and Research Centre, Nashik, Maharashtra, India
Sonali A Patange Consultant Diabetologist, Dr Sonali Patange’s Speciality Diabetes Centre, Dadar West, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Sonali Bhojane Consultant Diabetologist, Nectar Diabetes Care, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Roopal Panchani Aanjney Endocrine Clinic, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
Shardul Kothary Consulting Diabetologist, Diabetes Speciality Clinic, Sion (E), Maharashtra, India
Samrat D Shah Consultant Physician, Sonal Clinic, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Sujit Chandratreya Consultant Diabetologist and Endocrinologist, Shatabdi Super Speciality Hospital, Mumbai Naka, Nashik, Maharashtra, India
Ashish Prasad Scientific Services, USV Private Limited, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Mayuri Talathi Scientific Services, USV Private Limited, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Keywords:

Type 2 diabetes mellitus, glimepiride/metformin combination, combination therapy, insulin

Abstract

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) poses a major public health burden. The present case-based questionnaire survey evaluated the treatment pattern and clinical experience of healthcare professionals (HCPs) in prescribing glimepiride/metformin fixed-dose combination (FDC) with insulin, with or without other oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs), to patients with T2DM in the Indian setting. Material and methods: A retrospective, multicenter, observational, case-based questionnaire survey was conducted at several healthcare centers in India with the help of medical records of patients having T2DM, who were prescribed different strengths of glimepiride/metformin FDC. Data was collected from the patients’ medical records and were analyzed using statistical tests. Results: A total of 1,013 patients with T2DM were included in this study. The mean (± standard deviation [SD]) age of patients was 53.5 ± 13.9 years. Mean duration of diabetes was 6.3 ± 4.8 years. About 70.1% of the patients received glimepiride/metformin FDC as first-line therapy and 29.9% received it as second-line therapy. Around 66.3% of the patients in first-line glimepiride/metformin FDC group received insulin once a day, and the proportion increased to 86.8% of the patients in second-line therapy group. Other OHAs were used in 754 (74.4%) patients. About 18.2% (n = 185) patients reported change in weight, with a slightly larger number of patients having reduction in weight. There was considerable reduction in HbA1c, FPG and PPG in patients receiving glimepiride/metformin FDC with insulin, irrespective of OHA use. Efficacy and tolerability were reported as good to excellent for 96.2% and 94.8% patients, respectively. Conclusion: This case-based questionnaire survey shows the usage pattern of various strengths of glimepiride/metformin FDC with insulin
and the HCPs’ practice approach regarding early initiation of this combination in Indian patients with T2DM.