The effect of hyperglycaemia on the absorption of glibenclamide in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

We have studied the absorption of glibenclamide 10 mg as a single morning dose in 7 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, comparing normoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic states. The maximal glibenclamide plasma concentrations were significantly higher in the normoglycaemic than in the hyperglycaemic state (448 vs 228 mg.l-1) and these peak concentrations were attained faster in normoglycaemia than in hyperglycaemia (3.7 vs 5 h). We conclude that the absorption of glibenclamide in the two states is different.