There is little information as regards ability of diabetes control to favorably affect vascular disease. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of treatment of diabetes with an approved drug, Metformin, as well as with the combination of Metformin + Pravachol, on vascular function. To evaluate this we will recruit 26 non-insulin dependent diabetic patients with moderately good but not perfect glucose control (blood glucose between 140 mg/dl and 225 mg/dl) on usual oral hypoglycemic therapy an d compare treatment with Metformin with diet only and Metformin + Pravachol. Participants will be initially randomly assigned to no drug for 6 weeks or to Metformin alone for 9 weeks; then they will be switched to the alternate intervention. Finally those with high cholesterol will be assigned to Metformin + Pravachol ( or Metformin alone for those with normal cholesterol) for 9 weeks. Total study duration will be 24 weeks. At the end of each period they will be studied for glucose, lipids, and vascular function. Each patient will serve as their own control for this study. If this research suggests a favorable effect of Metformin and/or Metformin+ Pravachol to influence vascular function, it would provide one of the first evidences of a favorable effect of glucose control on vascular disease.
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