title: The use of acarbose in the prevention and treatment of hypoglycaemia.
abstract: This paper reviews the use of acarbose in the prevention and treatment of hypoglycaemia. In diet- or sulfonylurea-treated patients, acarbose may reduce the incidence of late postprandial hypoglycaemia. In insulin-treated patients, acarbose treatment usually requires reduction of the insulin dose; one study has shown that 100 mg acarbose at night significantly reduces the incidence of mid-evening and nocturnal hypoglycaemia. Several studies have suggested acarbose to be a useful adjunct to the management of reactive hypoglycaemia in the non-diabetic patients. Long-term prospective studies are still needed to document this last indication of acarbose or other alpha-glycosidase inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Lefebvre
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Scheen
mesh_terms: D020909:Acarbose; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004435:Eating; D065089:Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014312:Trisaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D065089:Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds; D014312:Trisaccharides; D020909:Acarbose