[Effect of acarbose on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in type II diabetes with secondary failure]

The effect of the glucosidase inhibitor acarbose on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism was studied in 9 older hospitalized diabetics with secondary failure. In a single blind cross-over study of three weeks the patients received glibenclamide in a dose of 15 mg/day associated with acarbose in a daily dose of 3 X 100 mg or placebo for two periods. Acarbose reduced both the postprandial blood glucose profils and urinary glucose levels significantly. However neither morning fasting glucose concentration nor cholesterin or triglyceride levels were lowered by the drug. The other biochemical and haematological findings were not influenced by the substance. Some patients complained of flatulence or meteorism, but this side-effect was tolerated with the demand to continue the study.