Efficacy and Safety of Hypoglycemic Drugs in Children w...

Efficacy and Safety of Hypoglycemic Drugs in Children with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Efficacy and Safety of Hypoglycemic Drugs in Children with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
2005
Sandra Benavides, Pharm.D. 1 | Jeffrey Striet, B.S. 2 | John Germak, M.D. 3 | Milap C. Nahata, Pharm.D. 4
Pharmacotherapy

Print ISSN: 0277-0008
Volume: 25 | Issue: 6
Cover date: June 2005
Page(s): 803-809


Key Words

type 2 diabetes mellitus, hemoglobin A1c, glycosylated hemoglobin, A1C, metformin, insulin, sulfonylureas, pediatric patients

Abstract

Study Objectives. To assess the characteristics of children with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to determine the efficacy and safety of drug therapies for this disease in this population.

Design. Retrospective review of medical records.

Setting. Endocrinology specialty clinic at a tertiary teaching children's hospital.

Patients. Forty-two children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes examined between January 1996 and December 2001.

Measurements and Main Results. Demographic information, presenting signs and symptoms, drug history, and laboratory values were obtained in all patients. Presenting signs and symptoms were similar to those seen in adults. Patients were initially treated with metformin (14.3%), sulfonylureas (14.3%), insulin (31.0%), or combination therapy (14.3%). Most drug regimens decreased hemoglobin A1c (A1C) levels. Overall, patients treated with drugs had a significant decrease in A1C values, from 10.6% ± 2.7% (mean ± SD) before treatment to 8.0% ± 2.0% at 3.2–52.9 months of treatment (p<0.001). Adverse reactions attributed to drugs included hypoglycemia and gastrointestinal distress.

Conclusion. Drug therapy appears to be effective in lowering A1C values in pediatric patients, although further prospective trials are necessary to determine optimal drug therapy in this population.
Author(s): Sandra Benavides, Pharm.D. 1 | Jeffrey Striet, B.S. 2 | John Germak, M.D. 3 | Milap C. Nahata, Pharm.D. 4

Author(s) affiliations

1. Division of Pharmacy Practice and Administration, College of Pharmacy, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; Children's Research Institute, Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.
2. Division of Pharmacy Practice and Administration, College of Pharmacy, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
3. College of Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.
4. Division of Pharmacy Practice and Administration, College of Pharmacy, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; College of Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
Address reprint requests to Milap C. Nahata, Pharm.D., College of Pharmacy, the Ohio State University, 500 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210; e-mail: Nahata.1@osu.edu.

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