[Arfazetin in the treatment of diabetes mellitus]

Hypoglycemic activity of arfazetin, a Soviet antidiabetic species of medicinal plants, was studied in 32 patients with diabetes mellitus, types I and II. Arfazetin was administered to patients with diabetes mellitus, type I, in combination with a diet and an adequate dose of insulin. All the patients with diabetes mellitus, type II, were given infusion in addition to a diet and hypoglycemic drugs. The conclusions were the following. The species possessed hypoglycemic activity. In patients with diabetes mellitus, type II, it made it possible to decrease or even give up a daily dose of hypoglycemic drugs per os. In patients with diabetes mellitus, type II, arfazetin produced no significant effect on the level of hypoglycemia. The optimum daily dose of arfazetin was 1 glass of infusion prepared ex tempore out of 5 g of dried species to be taken 30 min. before meal (one-third of glass) 3 times a day for one month.