COMPARATIVE EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF GLIMEPIRIDE–METFORMIN VERSUS TENELIGLIPTIN–METFORMIN IN TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS: A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED STUDY

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most prevalent chronic metabolic disorders worldwide. Optimal glycaemic control often requires combination therapy using oral hypoglycemic agents with complementary mechanisms of action. Objectives: To compare the efficacy and safety of Glimepiride Metformin and Teneligliptin Metformin combinations in patients with T2DMinadequately controlled on monotherapy. Materials and Methods: This prospective, open-label, parallel, randomized single-centre study included 204 patients with uncontrolled type 2 DM, randomized equally into two groups. Group A received Glimepiride 2 mg once daily plus Metformin 1 g twice daily, while Group B received Teneligliptin 20 mg once daily plus Metformin 1 g twice daily. Fasting blood sugar (FBS) and post-prandial blood sugar (PPBS) were measured at baseline, 3 and 6 months, and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) at baseline and 6 months. Adverse events were recorded. Data were analyzed using chi-square and unpaired t-tests. Results: Baseline parameters were comparable between groups. At 6 months, differences in mean FBS and mean PPBSin Group A and Group B respectively were not statistically significant. Mean HbA1c was significantly lower in Group B (6.61 ± 0.34 %) compared to Group A (6.75 ± 0.44 %) (p = 0.018). Adverse effects were mild, with lower frequency of symptomatic hypoglycaemia in the Teneligliptin–Metformin group. Conclusion: Both combinations effectively improved glycaemic control; however, Teneligliptin–Metformin achieved a greater HbA1c reduction and showed a better safety profile with fewer hypoglycemic episodes.