Acute effect of the somatostatin analogue SMS-201995 on plasma glucose and triglycerides in insulin-dependent diabetic patients.

1. The effect of the long-acting somatostatin analogue SMS-201995 on diabetes control was assessed in 6 insulin-dependent diabetic patients (3 men and 3 women aged 19-38 years). 2. Plasma glucose and triglyceride profiles were obtained on 4 consecutive days, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. On the first 2 days the patients received their usual dose of insulin and ate at 8:00 a.m. and at noon. On the third and fourth days they received 1/3 of their usual insulin dose together with 100 micrograms SMS-201995 injected subcutaneously. 3. Postprandial glucose and triglyceride increases were blunted during the 360 min of observation on both days after SMS-201995 administration. The areas under the glucose-time plots fell from 23.72 +/- 12.29 (mean +/- SD) to 7.98 +/- 14.26 (P < 0.05) and the areas under the triglyceride-time plots from 10.51 +/- 9.01 to -3.15 +/- 4.30 g.min.dl-1 (P < 0.01). 4. No adverse reactions were observed after SMS-201995 administration for 2 days. 5. We conclude that administration of the somatostatin analogue SMS-201995 may be beneficial for insulin-dependent diabetic patients.