• Hypocaloric liquid formula diets were given for one month to 20 moderately obese patients with non—insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus divided into two equal groups; group 1 was treated with weight loss alone; group 2 received glipizide in addition to the hypocaloric diet. Mean weight loss was similar in the two groups (6.5 ±0.6 v 6.4 ±0.5 kg) and was associated with a statistically significant fall in mean fasting plasma glucose values from 293±15 to 232±24 mg/dL (group 1) and from 281±15 to 152 ±7 mg/dL (group 2). This was associated with 13% (group 1) and 36% (group 2) decrements in total postprandial glucose response. Neither fasting nor postprandial insulin levels changed significantly with weight loss, but estimates of insulin-stimulated glucose disposal demonstrated a 15% (group 1) and 42% (group 2) improvement. Finally, fasting plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations fell significantly in both groups.
(Arch Intern Med 1985;145:665-669)