Oral hypoglycaemic agents in the management of diabetes mellitus in Nigerians.

Therapy of diabetes mellitus with oral hypoglycaemic agents is reviewed in 445 patients, excluding 18 patients who failed, primarily, to respond to these drugs. The findings are discussed with particular reference to the latent period between the onset of therapy and the observed response. It is probable that the more potent, newer oral hypoglycaemic drugs may help to remove this latent period or reduce its duration.