A system approach to the analysis of pharmacodynamic systems is applied to the relationship between the glyburide serum concentration (Cd) and a resulting pharmacologic effect response, that is, the C-peptide serum concentration (Cc) in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Glyburide, glucose, and C-peptide serum concentrations were measured in eight patients with NIDDM following each of five treatments: Treatment A: one glyburide 5-mg tablet (formulation 1); Treatment B: one glyburide 5-mg tablet (formulation 2); Treatment C: glyburide solution as an intragastric infusion (4.67 mg over 12 h); Treatment D: glyburide solution as an intragastric infusion (9.33 mg over 12 h); and Treatment E: no glyburide. The overall relationship between the C-peptide (Cc), glyburide (Cd), and glucose (Cg) serum concentrations is successfully described by operator equations of the form, Cc(t) = t-infinity psi p(t-u)phi t(Cd(u), Cg(u)) du or Cc(t) = t-infinity psi p(t-u)phi t(Cd(u), Cg(u),u) du. The forms of the individual functions are selected empirically based on the results of the present study and those of previous investigations, and are estimated by conventional curve-fitting procedures. The resulting operator equations are used to describe glyburide pharmacodynamics in NIDDM patients and to estimate the optimal glyburide systemic concentration and delivery rate profiles for such patients based on pharmacodynamic response.