ACARBOSE TREATMENT OF SULFONYLUREA-TREATED NON-INSULIN DEPENDENT DIABETICS - A DOUBLE-BLIND CROSSOVER COMPARISON OF AN ALPHA-GLYCOSIDASE INHIBITOR WITH METFORMIN

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 10  (4) , 219-223
Abstract
The postprandial blood glucose rise after a standard meal in 6 non-insulin dependent diabetics was significantly lower when acarbose 200 mg was taken together with the meal than without acarbose. Eight weeks acarbose treatment (300 mg) did not change fasting blood glucose. The effect of 4 wk administration of the .alpha.-glucosidase inhibitor acarbose (300 mg) on diabetes regulation in another 10 non-insulin dependent diabetics was compared with metformin (500 mg) in a double-blind cross-over study. Acarbose lowered postprandial blood glucose level from 11.5 .+-. 4.2 to 8.9 .+-. 1.8 mmol/l (P < 0.02) and Hb A1c from 8.1 .+-. 1.8-7.7 .+-. 1.7% (P < 0.05). Urinary glucose was also decreased. Metformin did not significantly change postprandial blood glucose, Hb A1c and urinary glucose excretion with the prescribed dose. The postprandial blood glucose and Hb A1c after 4 wk of treatment with acarbose and of metformin did not differ significantly. Side-effects of both drugs were mild and mainly gastrointestinal, but the frequency of side-effects was not different.