Experiencia clínica con un inhibidor de la alfa glucosidasa (acarbosa) en el tratamiento de la diabetes no insulinodependiente: estudio multicéntrico / Multicentric study on the effect of an alpha glucosidase inhibitor in the treatment of non insulin dependent diabetes

Diabetic patients received acarbose, 150 mg/day durign four weeks and this dose was increased to 300 mg/day durign 3 months. Afterwards, patients were followed for a period of 12 weeks without acarbose. Fasting and post-prandial blood glucose and glycosilated hemoglobin were measured sequentially durign the study. Results: Eighty five patients were recruited for the study but 64 complied with the treatment protocol. The age of these patients was 56 ñ 8.8 years old, their diabetes duration was 7.8 ñ 8.8 years and their body mass index was 27.6 ñ 3.6 kg/m². During acarbose treatment, glycosilated hemoglobin decreased from 8.36 ñ 1.33 to 7.71 + 1.7 percent (p < 0.001), fasting blood glucose decreased from 173 ñ 48 to 159 ñ 59 mg/dl (p < 0.03) and post-prandial blood glucose decreased from 254 ñ 80 to 241 ñ mg/dl (NS). After discontinuing acarbose glycosilated hemoglobin and blood glucose levels returned to basal levels. Body weight and blood pressure did not change during the treatment period. Fifty nine patients bad gastrointestinal symptoms (meteorism, flatulence and abdominal distention) that were mild in 59 percent and moderate in 39 percent. Episodes of hypoglycemia were not observed. Conclusions: Acarbose, associated to sylphonylureas is an effective drug to reduce blood glucose and glycosilated hemoglobin levels in patients with non insulin dependent diabetes