[Weight reduction in obese diabetics: a double-blind study of diethylpropionate (author's transl)].

In a double-blind study 40 overweight maturity-onset diabetics on a weight-reducing diet were randomly assigned to treatment with either the appetite-suppressant diethylpropion hydrochloride (Tenuate), or placebo. After treatment for 8 weeks the mean weight loss achieved by each group was 4.9 and 3.3%, respectively. This approximately equal weight loss was too slight to exert any significant effect on glucose tolerance. Thus, an additional effect of this anorexiant in comparison with diet restriction alone, as described in obese non-diabetic subjects, is not evident in the case of obese diabetic patients.