Metformin Compared With Glyburide in Gestational Diabetes

A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: 

To compare the efficacy of metformin with glyburide for glycemic control in gestational diabetes.

METHODS: 

Patients with gestational diabetes who did not achieve glycemic control on diet were randomly assigned to metformin (n=75) or glyburide (n=74) as single agents. The primary outcome was glycemic control. Secondary outcomes were drug failure rate and neonatal and obstetric complications.

RESULTS: 

In the patients who achieved adequate glycemic control, the mean fasting and 2-hour postprandial blood glucose levels were not statistically different between the two groups. However, 26 patients in the metformin group (34.7%) and 12 patients in the glyburide group (16.2%) did not achieve adequate glycemic control and required insulin therapy (P=.01).

CONCLUSION: 

In this study, the failure rate of metformin was 2.1 times higher than the failure rate of glyburide when used in the management of gestational diabetes (95% confidence interval 1.2–3.9).

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: 

ClinicalTrials.gov, www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT00965991.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 

I

In Brief

In women with gestational diabetes, the failure rate of metformin to control glucose levels adequately is 2.1 times greater than that of glyburide.