title: Acarbose for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
abstract: Acarbose (Glucobay-Bayer) is the first in a new class of oral antidiabetic drugs, the alpha-glucosidase inhibitors. It is licensed for the treatment of patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), either as first-line therapy when dietary measures are insufficient, or as an adjunct to conventional oral therapy where glycaemic control is suboptimal. The manufacturer claims that acarbose "can achieve a new level of blood glucose control in diabetes". In this article we consider whether acarbose offers any real advance.
mesh_terms: D020909:Acarbose; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014312:Trisaccharides / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D014312:Trisaccharides; D020909:Acarbose