THE ARYLSULFONYLUREAS AND DIABETES MELLITUS

Recently a great deal of interest has been aroused by reports of two remarkable compounds which can induce a lowering of the blood sugar level when taken by mouth. These substances have the following names and structural formulae: Carbutamide, which is a sulfonamide, was originally tested for antibacterial action. In some of the subjects receiving it, symptoms suggestive of hypoglycemia developed and a lowered concentration of blood sugar was demonstrated. In retrospect, this phenomen should not have been unforeseen, because as early as 1942 depression of the blood sugar level following administration of a sulfonamide had been reported, although the mechanisms involved were not further investigated. Carbutamide and tolbutamide appear to have essentially the same actions. Carbutamide is weakly antibacterial and also slightly goitrogenic in rats when given in large amounts. The latter action appears essentially negligible in humans. Both compounds cause a lowering of the blood sugar level in healthy animals...