CAN ALPHA-GLUCOSIDASE INHIBITORS REDUCE THE DOSAGE OF SULFONYLUREA COMPOUNDS NEEDED BY PATIENTS WITH NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS

The effects of treatment with an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor and a red uced dose of sulphonylurea were investigated in patients with non-insu lin-dependent diabetes mellitus who had previously been treated with s ulphonylurea compounds but who were hypoglycaemic at times. Treatment with a daily dose of 0.6 mg alpha-glucosidase inhibitor and a reduced dose of the previously used sulphonylurea compound for 4 weeks did not significantly affect the glycosylated haemoglobin level. The post-pra ndial blood-glucose concentration of the patients was unchanged after treatment compared with its value immediately before treatment but dif fered significantly compared with the value 4 weeks before treatment ( P < 0.03); it was considered likely that this change was due to a seas onal increase in calorie intake at the end of the treatment period. Sy mptoms related to hypoglycaemia disappeared in all of the treated pati ents.