ALPHA-GLUCOSIDASE INHIBITORS IN DIABETES - LESSONS FROM ANIMAL STUDIES

Two rat models for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) hav e been used in our laboratory to study the effects of alpha-glucosidas e inhibitors. These models become hyperglycaemic and have other charac teristics which make them good models for NIDDM, and both prevention a nd reversal studies have been carried out; the prevention experiments were started before the animal became diabetic while the reversal grou ps were treated after diabetes had fully developed. In both models blo od glucose was significantly lowered toward control levels using a dos e of 40 mg per 100 g of diet while there was a less dramatic, but stil l significant, correction with half that dose. Treatment increased the weight gain of the more diabetic model (ZDF) while there was no effec t of treatment on the weight of the Wistar diabetic fatty (WDF) rat. O ther parameters such as glycated haemoglobins, nerve conduction veloci ty and nerve sugar content are also reversed with effective treatment of the hyperglycaemic condition.