Cabergoline is a long-acting agonist of dopamine, which has a high affinity to dopamine receptors (type 2). Treatment using a dopaminergic agonist reduces hypothalamic stimulation that increases during liver gluconeogenesis, lipids synthesis, and insulin resistance. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of cabergoline on blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). This study was a double-blind, controlled clinical trial in patients with type 2 DM. The patients received treatments of a placebo (control group; n = 20) or cabergoline 0.5 mg (cabergoline group; n = 20) using the sequential method, once per week for 3 months, while using previously prescribed glucose-lowering drugs. All tests, such as levels of fasting blood glucose, 2-hour post-prandial glucose, complete lipid profile, prolactin, alanine amino transferase, aspartate amino transferase, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and serum insulin, and homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance were measured at baseline and at 3-month follow-up. The fasting blood sugar levels were significantly different between placebo and cabergoline groups after 3 months of treatment (P = 0.004). The prolactin levels were significantly different from beginning of the treatment to 6 months later (P = 0.001). In the cabergoline group, there was a significant decrease in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) levels after 3 months (P = 0.003). Overall, 65%and 45% patients in the cabergoline and control groups, respectively, responded to treatment (HbA1C<7%). Cabergoline may be useful as a long-acting antidiabetic agent in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Periodontal disease in diabetic patients can compromise a patient's ability to maintain a proper metabolic control and may be associated with diabetic complication. Aims: This study was designed to evaluate the frequency of periodontal disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and how this was related with the presence of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Materials and Methods: A comparison was made of periodontal parameters (plaque index (PI), community periodontal index of treatment needs (CPITN), periodontal disease severity measured in quartiles of probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment loss (CAL)) in a group of diabetic patients with retinopathy (n = 84) versus a group of diabetic patients without retinopathy (n = 129). In addition, 73 age- and sex-matched individuals were selected to serve as the control group. Analysis was performed to evaluate the relationships between periodontal disease and DR. Results: In terms of PI, no statistically significant differences were observed, so, oral hygiene was similar in both groups. Diabetic patients with retinopathy had greater CPITN (P < 0.001) and more severe periodontal disease (P < 0.001) than no retinopathy. Also, our results indicated a relationship between type 2 DM and periodontal disease. Conclusions: The patients with diabetes retinopathy appear to show increased periodontal disease susceptibility.

Background: Impaired fasting glucose (IFG), and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) are two prediabetes conditions which have some correlation with macrovascular disorders. The risk of microvascular complications in these groups is not clear. Objectives: The prevalence of albuminuria in subjects with IFG and IGT was evaluated in the present study. Patients and Methods: In this study three groups of subjects were entered (45 subjects in each group): IFG, IGT, and normal glucose tolerance as control. The urine albumin-creatinine ratio was studied in morning spot urine samples to detect microalbuminuria. The subjects were followed up for two years, and blood sugar and urine albumin and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) were measured every 6 months. Results: The prevalence rate of microalbuminuria was 15.5% in the prediabetic groups, while no one had microalbuminuria in the control group (P = 0.005). The prevalence of microalbuminuria in patients with IFG or IGT was not significantly different (17.8% vs. 13.3%) (P = 0.4). Fourteen subjects (4 in IFG group and 10 in IGT group) developed diabetes mellitus within a 2-year follow-up period (P = 0.1). Thirty six percent of subjects with albuminuria, and twelve percent of subjects without albuminuria progressed to diabetes mellitus during a 2-year follow-up (P = 0.02, odd ratio = 4.1; CI95%, 1.13-15.1). Conclusions: The risk of microalbuminuria in prediabetic subjects is high, and probably prediabetic subjects are at higher risk of progression to diabetes mellitus. We suggest periodically evaluation of albuminuria in prediabetic patients after the diagnosis. Keywords: Glucose Tolerance; Diabetic Nephropathies; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2