Abstract
Summary
Aim
: The present study investigated the effect of acarbose on insulin requirements and glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes receiving exogenous insulin due to secondary failure of maximum dose sulphonylurea therapy.
Methods
: A single‐centre, double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled study was performed in 48 type 2 diabetic patients with late‐term failure following at least 3 years of sulphonylurea therapy requiring additional insulin therapy to determine the impact of acarbose on glycaemic control and insulin requirements. The primary end points were glycaemic response rate (responders being predefined as patients who achieve a decrease in HbA
1c
to less than 8% or a reduction by at least 15% as compared to the baseline values) and the daily insulin dose at 6 months. Secondary parameters assessed included postprandial changes in blood glucose, serum insulin and C‐peptide during the treatment period.
Results
: There were significantly more responders in the acarbose‐treated group compared
with the placebo group (20/24 patients vs. 10/19 patients; p
Conclusions
: The findings of this study suggest that the addition of acarbose to sulphonylurea/insulin combination therapy can improve glycaemic control in type 2 diabetic patients. Acarbose may also reduce insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia.