Acarbose and idiopathic reactive hypoglycemia.
OBJECTIVE
Therapy for idiopathic reactive hypoglycemia is ineffective and impractical. Acarbose, an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, decreases the absorbed glucose load. This study was done to determine the efficacy of acarbose in this syndrome.


METHODS
Six patients with symptoms suggestive of postprandial hypoglycemia were chosen consecutively. Three-hour oral glucose tolerance tests using 75 g of glucose were done on each patient. The patients were then treated with acarbose with each meal.


RESULTS
All patients had symptomatic hypoglycemia during testing. After 4 weeks of acarbose therapy, all patients were asymptomatic on a regular diet.


CONCLUSIONS
Acarbose is efficacious in the management of idiopathic reactive hypoglycemia.
Peter
Sebastian
S
University of the West Indies, Nassau, Bahamas. samaxe@aol.com
D020909:Acarbose / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D020909:Acarbose