ACARBOSE AND NUTRIENT INTAKE IN NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS

We carried out a double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over trial to evaluate changes in nutrient intake during acarbose therapy and short- term changes in metabolic control in Finnish patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. The efficacy and tolerability of acarbos e was also assessed during this short 8-week treatment period. Patient s were treated either with diet only (18 subjects) or with diet and su lphonylurea (9 subjects) prior to entering this trial. The nutrient in take was assessed using food records kept during the last 2-5 days of each treatment period. Treatment with acarbose did not affect body wei ght or the intake of energy and carbohydrates, but it was associated w ith a slight decrease in the dietary fat intake. Both fasting and 2-h postprandial blood glucose levels fell continuously during acarbose bu t the change did not reach statistical significance during the 8-week treatment period, The 2-h serum insulin response was not affected. The results were similar in patients treated with acarbose alone and in t hose receiving acarbose together with sulphonylurea regimen. The acarb ose regimen was relatively well tolerated although mild gastrointestin al side-effects were observed in many patients. In conclusion, treatme nt with acarbose has no major effects on nutrient intake in diabetic p atients. To monitor changes in metabolic control after the introductio n of acarbose to the treatment regimen a longer than 8-week period is needed.