Early Blood Glucose Responses to Konjac Glucomannan and Metformin in Alloxan-induced Diabetic Female Wistar Rats in Kenya: An Exploratory Study

Background: Konjac glucomannan (KGM) has been investigated for glycaemic modulation, but early responses to KGM, metformin, and their combinations remain insufficiently characterised in alloxan-exposed rats. Objective: To describe early blood glucose concentrations and within-animal changes among metformin, KGM, and combination-treated groups. Methods: Twenty-one female Wistar rats were allocated to seven groups (n = 3/group): one non-induced control group, two monotherapy groups, and four combination groups. Alloxan (130 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) was administered to Groups II–VII. Glucose concentrations at pretreatment baseline, 1.5 h, and 3 h were available for all animals; subsequent observation intervals differed by group. Group means, sample standard deviations, and 3-h within-animal changes were calculated. An exploratory one-way analysis of variance compared changes among the six alloxan-exposed groups. Results: Mean (SD) 3-h glucose concentrations in Groups I–VII were 7.57 (0.21), 13.27 (5.22), 20.97 (11.93), 5.73 (2.63), 6.57 (1.63), 16.77 (12.30), and 8.47 (1.20) mmol/L, respectively. Mean changes from baseline were +2.13, −7.37, −0.73, −7.10, −3.17, −3.67, and −1.47 mmol/L. The between-group analysis was not statistically significant, F(5, 12) = 1.755, p = .197. One combination-treated rat had a 3-h glucose concentration of 2.7 mmol/L. Conclusions: Unequal baseline concentrations, limited group sizes, the absence of an untreated diabetic control, and uncertain intermediate-dose assignments prevent causal inferences about comparative efficacy or pharmacological interactions. The observations are hypothesis-generating and highlight the need for controlled efficacy and safety studies.