Effect of metformin on peripheral insulin sensitivity in non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

To test whether metformin treatment might improve peripheral insulin sensitivity in non insulin dependent diabetes, we measured peripheral glucose uptake in 12 non insulin dependent diabetics before (A) and after 4 weeks (B) of metformin therapy (2 X 850 mg/day) by the hyperinsulinemic clamp technique (80 mU/m2/min). In addition, insulin binding to monocytes was compared between A and B. Diabetic control, evaluated by measurement of fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin, was significantly improved by metformin treatment (P less than 0.01). Insulin binding to monocytes was not significantly influenced by metformin (A-4.53% vs. B-5.12%, n.s. at insulin tracer concentration). Peripheral glucose utilisation improved slightly, but significantly after 4 weeks of metformin therapy (A: 4.4 +/- 0.6 mg/kg/min, B: 5.4 +/- 0.8 mg/kg/min, p less than 0.01). Improvement in peripheral glucose utilisation correlated significantly with improved metabolic control, estimated by fasting blood glucose measurements (p less than 0.01).