Effects of Acarbose in Metabolic Control of Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

A carbose is a reversible inhibitor of the aintestinal alpha-glucosidases, the oral administration of which delays absorptionof carbohydrates. the aim of this study was to investigate the effect ofadministration of acarbose on parameters of glycaemic control, lipid parameters and tolerability in ambulant type 1 diabetic subjects.materials and methods: entry criteria included being: diabetic, age below 30 years and a history of at least one episode of diabetic ketoacidosisinsufficiently controlled with diet and insulin. the data of 17 patients (6 men and 11 women, mean age 17.2±3.5 (range 14-26) years, medianduration of diabetes 8 (range 1-20) years were valid for statistical analysis.results: during the run-in period hba1c levels tended to decrease from 9.5±1.1 to 9±1.7%. after 12 weeks of acarbose treatment, the mean level had decreased further to 7.6±1.6% (p: 0.002). mter discontionuing acarbose, hba1c levels increased to a mean level of 8.8±0.9%. a significant reduction in fasting plasma glucose (fpg) (from195±62 to 139±73 mgldl, p