Effects of combination of mitiglinide with various oral antidiabetic drugs in streptozotocin‐nicotinamide‐induced type 2 diabetic rats and Zucker fatty rats

We examined the effects of combining the rapid insulin secretagogue, mitiglinide, with various oral hypoglycaemic drugs including biguanides, pioglitazone, α‐glucosidase inhibitors, and sodium‐glucose co‐transporter 2 inhibitors in a rat model of type 2 diabetes. The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) using glucose, sucrose, or a liquid meal was used to compare the effects of mitiglinide with those of the four oral hypoglycaemic drugs and examine their combined effects on blood glucose levels and insulin secretion in the rat model. The combination of mitiglinide with other oral hypoglycaemic drugs suppressed the plasma glucose levels more than either agent did alone. Furthermore, the combination of these agents decreased insulin secretion more than mitiglinide did alone. These results indicate that mitiglinide is suitable for use in combination with other hypoglycaemic drugs because it inhibits postprandial hyperglycaemia by rapidly stimulating insulin secretion.