Influence of diftalone on tolbutamide test and i.v. glucose tolerance test.

In 16 healthy volunteers tolbutamide tests or i.v. glucose tolerance tests were performed with and without previous oral administration of 1000 mg diftalone. Blood sugar and serum insulin were assayed in regular intervals. Both with and without previous administration of diftalone blood glucose after tolbutamide did not show any difference. IRI response to tolbutamide, measured by planimetrical integration showed a statistically significant augmentation (0.05 greater than p greater than 0.01) after diftalone. Glucose assimilation (K-value) after diftalone was decreased (0.05 greater than p greater than 0.01) yet within normal range. For the accompanying insulin levels however no statistically significant difference was observed. In addition a normalisation of pathological tolbutamide test after diftalone could be noted in five patients with subclinical diabetes. Our results indicate that diftalone seems to have the following three actions: 1. Enhancement of the tolbutamide action. 2. direct augmentation of IRI secretion, 3. a peripheral action on glucose metabolism.