Comparative effects of fixed‐dose mitiglinide/voglibose combination and glimepiride on vascular endothelial function and glycemic variability in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT Introduction The aim of this study was to compare the effects of mitiglinide/voglibose with those of glimepiride on glycemic variability and vascular endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods It was a multicenter, open‐label, randomized, crossover study. Hospitalized patients received either mitiglinide/voglibose (three times daily administration of 10 mg mitiglinide and 0.2 mg voglibose) or glimepiride (once‐daily 2 mg) in random order, each for 5 days. The reactive hyperemia index (RHI) and the mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE) were measured as co‐primary endpoints using reactive hyperemia peripheral arterial tonometry and continuous glucose monitoring. Results The analysis included 30 patients (15 in each group). The RHI was 1.670 ± 0.369 during treatment with mitiglinide/voglibose and 1.716 ± 0.492 during treatment with glimepiride, with no significant difference between the two. MAGE was significantly lower in the mitiglinide/voglibose group (47.6 ± 18.5 mg/dL) than in the glimepiride group (100.6 ± 32.2 mg/dL). Although the mean blood glucose levels over the entire 24 h period were comparable between the two groups, the use of mitiglinide/voglibose was associated with a lower standard deviation of mean glucose, coefficient of variation, and mean postprandial glucose excursion compared with glimepiride. The time below range (180, >200, and 250 mg/dL) were lower in the mitiglinide/voglibose group, while the time in range (70–180 mg/dL) was higher. Conclusions In our short‐duration randomized crossover study, although not impacting vascular endothelial function, mitiglinide/voglibose demonstrated potential benefits in reducing glycemic variability, postprandial hyperglycemia, and hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes.