Glucobai therapy of diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Effects of acarbose (glucobai) in comparison with placebo were assessed in 180 patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM, group II) and 120 ones with insulindependent diabetes (IDDM, group 1). Group I patients were followed up for 24 weeks, group 2 ones for 12 weeks. Drug efficacy was assessed by parameters of carbohydrate metabolism compensation, including HBA1 content, glycemia on an empty stomach and postprandial one, daily glycosuria, with the subjective and objective tolerance of the drug studied in detail. Time course of changes in body mass and lipid characteristics was followed up, clinical and biochemical analyses of the blood were carried out. Study of acarbose in a double blind test indicated its high efficacy in the treatment of patients with type II diabetes. Besides the influence on carbohydrate metabolism, a reduction of lipid concentration in the blood was observed in patients with NIDDM. Studies carried out in 120 patients with IDDM did not reveal any effect on carbohydrate metabolism in this type of diabetes. Acarbose was well tolerated by the patients. Only 24.4% of patients with NIDDM administered acarbose and 5.6% of those given placebo complained of meteorism; none of more grave gastrointestinal complications was observed.