Modulation of the Antidiabetic Effect of Glimepiride by Diazepam in Diabetic Rats

Anxiolytic drugs may influence glycemic control in diabetic subjects, so the present study was conducted to investigate the effect of glimepiride, a commonly used oral hypoglycemic, diazepam, a commonly used anxiolytic, and their combination in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by streptozotpcin (50 mg/kg i.p.). Rats were divided into 5 groups namely: normal control, diabetic control, glimepiride (10 mg/kg p.o.), diazepam (5 mg/kg i.p.) or combination of both glimepiride and diazepam, respectively. All groups received daily treatments for 2 weeks including the normal group which received 1% Tween 80. Diazepam significantly improved the effect of glimepiride on the levels of serum glucose, insulin, C-peptide and liver glycogen content. In addition, combination of diazepam with glimepiride significantly improved the effect of the latter on oxidative stress biomarkers including serum lipid peroxides, blood glutathione levels and blood superoxide dismutase activity of diabetic rats. In conclusion, the present study revealed that diazepam increased the antidiabetic and the antioxidant actions of glimepiride which may be of considerable value in the treatment of diabetes mellitus where both reduction of associated anxiety and tight glycemic control are needed.