The effect of hyperglycaemia on the absorption of glibenclamide in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

We have studied the absorption of glibenclamide 10 mg as a single morning dose in 7 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, comparing normoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic states.The maximal glibenclamide plasma concentrations were significantly higher in the normoglycaemic than in the hyperglycaemic state (448 vs 228 mg·1^-1) and these peak concentrations were attained faster in normoglycaemia than in hyperglycaemia (3.7 vs 5 h).We conclude that the absorption of glibenclamide in the two states is different.