Ginseng therapy in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients. Cognitive function in elderly non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients before and after inpatient treatment for metabolic control. Health economic benefits and quality of life during improved glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized, controlled, double-blind trial.
To investigate the effect of ginseng on newly diagnosed non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients.
                In this double-blind placebo-controlled study, 36 NIDDM patients were treated for 8 weeks with ginseng (100 or 200 mg) or placebo. Efficacy was evaluated with psychophysical tests and measurements of glucose balance, serum lipids, aminoterminalpropeptide (PIIINP) concentration, and body weight.
                Ginseng therapy elevated mood, improved psychophysical performance, and reduced fasting blood glucose (FBG) and body weight. The 200-mg dose of ginseng improved glycated hemoglobin, serum PIIINP, and physical activity. Placebo reduced body weight and altered the serum lipid profile but did not alter FBG.
                Ginseng may be a useful therapeutic adjunct in the management of NIDDM. Cognitive function was measured before and after inpatient treatment for metabolic control in 20 elderly patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Another 20 patients still on the waiting list for this treatment, served as a control group. Glycosylated hemoglobin decreased in both groups. Psychomotor speed and concentration improved only after inpatient treatment (p < 0.01; p < 0.05, respectively). Improved performance was maintained and even enhanced 6 weeks after discharge from inpatient treatment. Performance in concentration tasks correlated with glycosylated hemoglobin (p < 0.05). It is concluded that cognitive deficits in elderly NIDDM patients can be reduced by inpatient treatment, although the benefit of glycemic control was not clearly demonstrated in this study. Although the long-term health benefits of good glycemic control in patients with diabetes are well documented, shorter-term quality of life (QOL) and economic savings generally have been reported to be minimal or absent.
                To examine short-term outcomes of glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).
                Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel trial.
                Sixty-two sites in the United States.
                A total of 569 male and female volunteers with type 2 DM.
                After a 3-week, single-blind placebo-washout period, participants were randomized to diet and titration with either 5 to 20 mg of glipizide gastrointestinal therapeutic system (GITS) (n = 377) or placebo (n = 192) for 12 weeks.
                Change from baseline in glucose and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and symptom distress, QOL, and health economic indicators by questionnaires and diaries.
                After 12 weeks, mean (+/-SE) HbA1c and fasting blood glucose levels decreased with active therapy (glipizide GITS) vs placebo (7.5% 0.1% vs 9.3%+/-0.1% and 7.0+/-0.1 mmol/L [126+/-2 mg/dL] vs 9.3+/-0.2 mmol/L [168+/-4 mg/ dL], respectively; P<.001). Quality-of-life treatment differences (SD units) for symptom distress (+0.59; P<.001), general perceived health (+0.36; P= .004), cognitive functioning (+0.34; P=.005), and the overall visual analog scale (VAS) (+0.24; P=.04) were significantly more favorable for active therapy. Subscales of acuity (+0.38; P=.002), VAS emotional health (+0.35; P=.003), general health (+0.27; P=.01), sleep (+0.26; P=.04), depression (+0.25; P=.05), disorientation and detachment (+0.23; P= .05), and vitality (+0.22; P=.04) were most affected. Favorable health economic outcomes for glipizide GITS included higher retained employment (97% vs 85%; P<.001), greater productive capacity (99% vs 87%; P<.001), less absenteeism (losses = $24 vs $115 per worker per month; P<.001), fewer bed-days (losses = $1539 vs $1843 per 1000 person-days; P=.05), and fewer restricted-activity days (losses = $2660 vs $4275 per 1000 person-days; P=.01).
                Improved glycemic control of type 2 DM is associated with substantial short-term symptomatic, QOL, and health economic benefits.