Abstract: This invention provides compounds and pharmaceutical compositions thereof for treating human type 1 and type 2 diabetes, particularly insulin-resistant diabetes.

Abstract: Combinations comprising vanadium (IV)/(V) compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable amines selected from the group of semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) substrates are insulin mimickers. Preferred vanadium (IV)/(V) compounds are vanadyl salts, vanadyl complexes and vanadates (e.g. sodium orthovanadate). Preferred amines are tyramine and benzylamine. A here-discovered synergism between the vanadium compound and the amine makes the effective concentration of vanadate in the combination one order of magnitude lower than the corresponding of vanadate alone. Consequently the combination has much lower toxicity than the known vanadium compound alone, which is a crucial advantage of the former for its use in the treatment and/or prevention of Diabetes mellitus.