Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Fixation and Operational Method for Abdominal Massage in T2DM Mice
Published on: March 7, 2025
"Low dose" metformin improves hyperglycemia better than acarbose in type 2 diabetics
Ken Yajima1, Akira Shimada, Hiroshi Hirose
1Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.
Objectives:
"High dose" metformin therapy (2,550 mg/day) is reported to improve glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients with obesity (body mass index (BMI) > or = 30). Some have reported that metformin therapy, even in low doses (500-750 mg/day), improves glycemic control in non-obese type 2 diabetic patients (BMI approximately 25). However, it is unclear whether "low dose" metformin improves glycemic control better than acarbose in non-obese type 2 diabetic patients, which has been shown to improve glycemic control in type 2 diabetes with obesity.
Methods:
We randomly divided 22 non-obese type 2 diabetic patients (mean BMI approximately 25) into two groups (A = 11, B = 11). Group A was treated with "low dose" metformin (500-750 mg/day) for 3 months, and switched to acarbose (150-300 mg/day) for another 3 months. Group B was treated with acarbose first, and then switched to "low dose" metformin.
Results:
"Low dose" metformin significantly decreased the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and HbA1c level in both groups A and B, whereas acarbose decreased HbA1c levels in group B but not in group A. Overall, "low dose" metformin significantly decreased HbA1c (p=0.0165) levels as compared to acarbose.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, "low dose" metformin therapy improved glycemic control better than acarbose in non-obese diabetics.
Related Concept Videos
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: α-Glucosidase Inhibitors
Acarbose and miglitol are typically...
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Biguanides and Glitazones
Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Glinides
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Sulfonylureas
Carbohydrate Metabolism
Starch accounts for approximately 60% of the carbohydrates consumed by humans. Since amylase enzymes cannot function in the stomach's acidic environment, starch can only be digested in the mouth and small intestine. Simple sugars are found naturally in milk and fruits in the...