title: Effects of acarbose treatment in Type 2 diabetic patients under dietary training: a multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2-year study.
abstract: This 24-months, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomised, group comparison study investigated the effect of acarbose vs placebo for improving metabolic control in patients with Type 2 diabetes under dietary training insufficiently controlled by diet alone. Patients randomised to acarbose had their dose increased in a stepwise manner to week 5. From week 5 onwards, they received 100 mg three times daily. This incremental dosing scheme was matched in the placebo group. All patients received specialist, intensive, continuous dietary training and counselling throughout the 2 yr of the study. Of the 74 patients randomised, 60 were included in the per-protocol analysis (28 receiving acarbose; 32 receiving placebo). HbA1c was the primary target variable. Per-protocol analysis found that, after 24 months, the mean difference in HbA1c relative to baseline value was -1.71+/-1.6% in the acarbose group and -0.82+/-1.1% in the placebo group. End-point values were 6.85+/-1.7% in the acarbose group and 7.41+/-1.1% in the placebo group. This difference between acarbose and placebo was statistically significant (p=0.02). Patients were defined as responders if they did not require additional treatment with an antidiabetic agent during the study. The responder rate under acarbose therapy was 89%, compared with 47% for placebo (p=0.0005). Acarbose-treated responders improved their HbA1c level to 6.45+/-0.82% after 24 months. The efficacy of acarbose was consistent throughout the study; decreasing efficacy was not evident. The results demonstrate the efficacy of acarbose for improving metabolic control in patients with Type 2 diabetes, even when such patients receive good dietary treatment and counselling.
authors.affiliation: Bayer Vital GmbH & Co. KG, PH-Medizin Stoffwechsel, Leverkusen, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hasche
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mertes
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bruns
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Englert
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Genthner
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heim
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heyen
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mahla
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schulze-Schleppinghof
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Steger-Johannsen
mesh_terms: D020909:Acarbose / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010919:Placebos
chemical_list: D020909:Acarbose; D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010919:Placebos