Background: Diabetes mellitus type 2 is a global disease affecting all ethnic groups. There are ethnic differences in both the prevalence and metabolic characteristics of the disease. Important interethnic pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic differences have been reported for several drugs. With few exceptions, detailed studies on sulphonylurea are lacking.

Material and methods: The patients were studied on two occasions when either no Gb (control) or 1.25 mg Gb was administered i.v., immediately before the administration of a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. Concentrations of insulin and proinsulin were determined by means of radioimmunoassay without cross-reactivities. Gb concentration was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. Pharmacodynamic results were calculated using net areas under the curves, with basal values set as zero. A P value less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: When glucose was administered orally without Gb, Chinese patients had higher plasma glucose increases at 10 min (7.6 mmol/l × min vs 2.6 mmol/l × min) and higher increases of plasma insulin levels than Caucasians at both 10 min (198 pmol/l × min vs 54 pmol/l × min) and 30 min (2286 pmol/l × min vs 1198 pmol/l × min). When Gb was administered, the plasma glucose increases were reduced, and the increases of serum insulin and proinsulin levels were greater in both ethnic groups. Compared with the basal values (−1 min), proinsulin/insulin ratios (RPI) were lowest at 10–30 min, followed by an increase. Chinese patients had higher increases of serum insulin levels at 10 min (1109 pmol/l × min vs 550 pmol/l × min) and a lower RPI at 30 min (6.0% vs 7.6%) and 240 min (15.0% vs 21.0%) relative to Caucasians. Serum Gb data were best fitted to a biexponential i.v. model. There were no interethnic differences in any of the pharmacokinetic parameters.

Conclusion: In summary, following oral glucose administration without Gb, Chinese type-2 diabetic patients had higher plasma insulin levels but also higher plasma glucose levels during the first 10 min, which might reflect reduced insulin sensitivity or more rapid glucose absorption. Gb augmented glucose-induced release of both insulin and proinsulin in both ethnic groups; the effect on insulin secretion was more pronounced. In conclusion, minor pharmacodynamic but no pharmacokinetic differences were found between the two groups. It seems appropriate to employ the same dosage principles when using Gb in Caucasians and Chinese.