Improvement in diabetes control by treatment with bezafibrate

: 380 diabetic patients with hyperlipidaemia and undergoing treatment with sulphonylureas or insulin were given 200 mg bezafibrate t.i.d for 3 months after a control period of 4 weeks. After cessation of treatment a follow-up examination was performed a further 4 weeks later. 194 treatment centres took part in the investigation. Total cholesterol fell by 17%, triglycerides by 36% and HDL-cholesterol rose by 15% during the treatment period. In addition, a glucose-lowering effect was seen which led to a definite improvement in the control of diabetes both with glibenclamide and with insulin. The degree of glucose reduction was most marked in moderately or poorly controlled diabetics. There was no correlation between the triglyceride reduction and the glucose reduction. After cessation of bezafibrate treatment the cholesterol, triglyceride and fasting glucose increased again and the HDL-cholesterol diminished. However, they did not reach pretreatment values. Bezafibrate was well tolerated, hypoglycaemia or hypoglycaemic reactions were not observed.