CAN ALPHA-GLUCOSIDASE INHIBITORS REDUCE THE INSULIN DOSAGE ADMINISTERED TO PATIENTS WITH NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS

For 10 patients (three women and seven men) with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, who had been given insulin (22.6 +/- 19.6 U/day) a nd had frequently shown hypoglycaemia, the insulin dose was slightly r educed and the administration of an a-glucosidase inhibitor was simult aneously started. Hypoglycaemic symptoms disappeared immediately and c ompletely, and sugar metabolism immediately before the withdrawal of t reatment was not aggravated: the glycosylated haemoglobin level was un changed and the post-prandial blood glucose level was increased though not significantly. The results of the present study indicate that the combined use of an a-glucosidase inhibitor with a reduced insulin dos e improves the quality of life of patients and may improve hyperinsuli naemia.