Evaluating the Effect of Cabergoline on Glycaemic Control of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Introduction: Although bromocriptine has been approved as an antidiabetic agent, few studies have reported the beneficial effects of other anti-hyperglycemic long acting dopamine agonist agents. In this regard, Cabergoline has fewer side-effects than that of Bromocriptine which can be administered as one or two days per week with higher compliance rates in patients. Aim: To determine the effect of Cabergoline on glycaemic control in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Materials and Methods: In this double-blind clinical trial, initial laboratory parameters including Fasting Plasma Glucose (FBS), 2 Hours Postprandial Plasma Glucose (2HPPG), HbA1c, Total Cholesterol (T-Chol), Triglycerides (TG), and High Density Lipoproteins (HDL) were assessed. The subjects were randomly assigned into two case and control groups. The intervention group received 0.25 mg Cabergoline tablets weekly for the first 2 weeks and 0.5 mg per week for the next 12 weeks. Control group also received placebo tablets. All clinical and laboratory assessments were repeated 3 months after initial visit. Paired t-test, independent t-test and chi-square were used for the comparison of quantitative and qualitative variables, respectively. Covariance analysis was also used to adjust for confounding variables. p<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: HbA1c (p=0.01) and TG (0.04) levels were significantly decreased after intervention in the case group compared to the controls. Conclusion: Cabergoline, over a 3 months period, exhibits beneficial effects on HbA1C and TG levels and may possibly be useful as a long-term anti-diabetic drug in patients with type 2 DM.