Phenethylbiguanide in diabetic patients; clinical and metabolic effects

Phenethylbiguanide (DBI) was given to 70 unselected but not obese diabetic patients who were receiving restricted diabetic diets. The only side effects attributed to the drug were anorexia, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea in 28 patients. These symptoms subsided with reduction of dosage. No evidence of serious toxicity has been demonstrated in clinical and metabolic studies. In 27 of the 70 patients diabetes was controlled adequately with DBI alone, and more stable control was obtained in 11 labile diabetics who received DBI in combination with insulin.The mechanism of action is not definitely known.