Diabetes mellitus is a clinical syndrome that is widely distributed in Iraq. It's of two major types: type-1- and type-2-.Of type -2- diabetes, ninety six patients were involved in this study. The aim of this study was to find new agents with fewer side effects for the therapy of non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients.
Three drugs were involved in this clinical study: Glipizide when used in a dose of 5mg three times daily produced a significant reduction of serum glucose level within nine weeks of therapy but had non significant effect on serum lipids, s.GOT, s.GPT and s.Creatinine levels. A combination of glipizide with any of the plants that were used in this study produced a significant and a greater reduction of s. glucose, s.cholesterol levels. The combination of glipizide and Curcuma longa produced a significant reduction of serum LDL and VLDL levels with non significant effects on s. triglycerides, s.HDL, s.GOT, s.GPT and s.Creatinine levels. The use of glipizide and Allium sativum produced a significant decrease in serum triglycerides, s.LDL levels with significant increase in serum HDL level and non significant effects on serum GOT, GPT and Creatinine levels. The use of glipizide and Cinnamomum verum produced a significant decrease in serum triglycerides and s.LDL with non significant effects on serum HDL, GOT, GPT and s. Creatinine levels. Both combinations of glipizide with any of the drugs(acarbose and rosiglitazone) used in the study produced significant reduction in s.glucose levels with significant elevation in serum HDL levels and non significant effect on s.triglycerides, s.VLDL, s.GOT, s.GPT and s.Creatinine levels. The triple combinations (glipizide, Acarbose and any of the plants used in our study) or (glipizide, Rosiglitazone and any of the above plants) produced significant and greatest decrease in s.glucose levels throughout the nine weeks of treatment with greatest increase in s.HDL levels and non significant changes on s.VLDL, s.GOT, s.GPT and s.Creatinine levels. Our treatment with glipizide resulted in an incidence of parasthesia in 2% of patients treated with this agent and incidence of gastric upset in 45% of patients treated with Acarbose which is relieved by using Curcuma Longa in more than 65% of cases. In conclusion, Curcuma longa, Allium sativum and Cinnamomum verum when used alone or in combination with oral hypoglycemic drugs for treatment of NIDDM were effective, cheap and with no hepatic or renal complications.