Insulin secretion and glucose tolerance in non-insulin dependent diabetic patients after chronic nifedipine treatment.

The effect of nifedipine 40 mg.day-1 for 3 months on glucose tolerance, insulin and C-peptide secretion after an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), intra-venous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) and glucagon stimulatory test, has been studied in 8 moderately hypertensive women suffering from non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). No significant variation in glucose metabolism was noted after nifedipine treatment, except for a slight improvement in insulin secretion after OGTT at the end of the study. There was an increase in cholesterol as a collateral effect.