Improvement of metabolic control in insulin dependent diabetics treated with the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor acarbose for two months.

Acarbose, an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, delays starch digestion and inhibits intestinal sucrase and maltase activity. Twenty-eight insulin dependent diabetics were given Acarbose (3 x 100 mg daily) over a two month period, preceded and followed by a two month placebo period. Acarbose reduced post-breakfast and post-dinner blood glucose values by 25% (p less than 0.001) and 24% (p less than 0.05) respectively. It also significantly reduced mean daily blood glucose by 18% (p less than 0.05) and mean amplitude of glycaemic excursions from 8.0 +/- 0.6 to 5.5 +/- 0.4 mmol/l (p less than 0.0005). Weight did not change significantly. Daily caloric and carbohydrate intake remained constant throughout the study while insulin requirements decreased slightly but significantly. Out of the 28 patients, 18 had absent while ten had slight residual B cell function as assessed by plasma C-peptide measurements. Treatment with Acarbose did not significantly affect residual B cell function. The beneficial effect of Acarbose on blood glucose control was seen in patients both with and without residual B cell secretion. The major side-effect was flatulence which was never severe enough to interrupt treatment, but led to a 50% reduction of the dose in one patient. It is concluded that Acarbose represents a useful additional means of improving metabolic control in insulin dependent diabetics.