Colchicine in diabetes mellitus.

As anti-inflammatory drugs such as acetylsalicylic acid are known to partially restore insulin response to glucose, the possible beneficial effect of colchicine, an anti-gout and anti-inflammatory drug, in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) was studied. Colchicine could significantly reduce blood glucose levels, both fasting and post-prandial when given at a dose of 0.5 mg thrice a day in NIDDM patients. There were no side-effects due to the therapy. This study suggests that colchicine has anti-diabetic properties.