{blacktriangledown}Acarbose for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

doi:10.1136/dtb.1994.32751

Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin 1994;32:51-53; doi:10.1136/dtb.1994.32751

${blacktriangledown}$ Acarbose for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Relevant BNF section: 6.1.2.3

Acarbose (Glucobay - Bayer) is the first in a new class of oralantidiabetic drugs, the ${alpha}$ -glucosidase inhibitors. It is licensedfor the treatment of patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetesmellitus (NIDDM), either as first-line therapy when dietarymeasures are insufficient, or as an adjunct to conventionaloral therapy where glycaemic control is suboptimal. The manufacturerclaims that acarbose "can achieve a new level of blood glucosecontrol in diabetes". In this article we consider whether acarboseoffers any real advance.