title: Combined use of basal insulin analog and acarbose reduces postprandial glucose in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Early initiation of basal insulin therapy is recommended for normalizing fasting blood glucose in type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, basal insulin treatment might not adequately control postprandial glucose levels. The present study evaluated whether the combination of the α-glucosidase inhibitor, acarbose, and basal insulin improved blood glucose control under daily-life treatment conditions in a large sample of Korean patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study was a multicenter, prospective, observational study under daily-life treatment conditions. A total of 539 patients with type 2 diabetes who were treated with basal insulin and additional acarbose were enrolled and followed up for 20 weeks. Changes in hemoglobin A1c, fasting and postprandial blood glucose were evaluated at baseline and at the end of the observation period. The physician and patient satisfaction of the combination treatment and safety were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hemoglobin A1c decreased by 0.55 ± 1.05% from baseline (P < 0.0001). Fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels were reduced by 0.89 ± 3.79 and 2.59 ± 4.77 mmol/L (both P < 0.0001). The most frequently reported adverse drug reactions were flatulence (0.37%) and abnormal gastrointestinal sounds (0.37%), and all were mild in intensity and transient. In the satisfaction evaluation, 79.0% of physicians and 77.3% of patients were 'very satisfied' or 'satisfied' with the combined basal insulin and acarbose therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combination therapy of basal insulin and acarbose in patients with type 2 diabetes improved glucose control, and had no drug-specific safety concerns, suggesting that the treatment might benefit individuals who cannot control blood glucose with basal insulin alone.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine Seoul, Korea.
authors: Ji-Hyun
authors: JH
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hansuh Hospital Seoul, Korea.
authors: Ji-Hyun
authors: JH
authors: Ahn
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, CHA University School of Medicine Seongnam, Korea.
authors: Soo-Kyung
authors: SK
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Jeju National University College of Medicine Jeju, Korea.
authors: Dae-Ho
authors: DH
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University College of Medicine Daegu, Korea.
authors: Hye-Soon
authors: HS
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Daegu Catholic University College of Medicine Daegu, Korea.
authors: Ho-Sang
authors: HS
authors: Shon
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine Cheongju, Korea.
authors: Hyun-Jeong
authors: HJ
authors: Jeon
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine Seoul, Korea.
authors: Tae-Hwa
authors: TH
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, CHA University School of Medicine Seongnam, Korea.
authors: Yong-Wook
authors: YW
authors: Cho
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine Seoul, Korea.
authors: Jae-Taek
authors: JT
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Mizmedi Hospital Seoul, Korea.
authors: Sung-Min
authors: SM
authors: Han
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine Wonju, Korea.
authors: Choon-Hee
authors: CH
authors: Chung
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine Chuncheon, Korea.
authors: Ohk-Hyun
authors: OH
authors: Ryu
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Eulji University College of Medicine Daejeon, Korea.
authors: Jae-Min
authors: JM
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University College of Medicine Busan, Korea.
authors: Soon-Hee
authors: SH
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University College of Medicine Busan, Korea.
authors: Min-Jeong
authors: MJ
authors: Kwon
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University College of Medicine Busan, Korea.
authors: Tae-Kyun
authors: TK
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine Ulsan, Korea.
authors: Il-Seong
authors: IS
authors: Namgoong
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine Ulsan, Korea.
authors: Eun-Sook
authors: ES
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, KyungHee University College of Medicine Seoul, Korea.
authors: In-Kyung
authors: IK
authors: Jung
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine Seoul, Korea.
authors: Sung-Dae
authors: SD
authors: Moon
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine Seoul, Korea.
authors: Je-Ho
authors: JH
authors: Han
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Sejong General Hospital Bucheon, Korea.
authors: Chong-Hwa
authors: CH
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Kangwon National University College of Medicine Chuncheon, Korea.
authors: Eun-Hee
authors: EH
authors: Cho
authors: Jaae Internal Medicine Clinic Incheon, Korea.
authors: Ki-Young
authors: KY
authors: Kim
authors: Delphoe Internal Medicine Clinic Gangneung, Korea.
authors: Hee-Baek
authors: HB
authors: Park
authors: Saeseoul Internal Medicine Clinic Daejeon, Korea.
authors: Ki-Sang
authors: KS
authors: Lee
authors: Lee Seongwoo Internal Medicine Clinic Wonju, Korea.
authors: Sung-Woo
authors: SW
authors: Lee
authors: Lee SangCheol Internal Medicine Clinic Suncheon, Korea.
authors: Sang-Cheol
authors: SC
authors: Lee
authors: Kang Cheolmin Internal Medicine Clinic Suncheon, Korea.
authors: Cheol-Min
authors: CM
authors: Kang
authors: Jeon Internal Medicine Clinic Cheongju, Korea.
authors: Byung-Sook
authors: BS
authors: Jeon
authors: Seoulsong Internal Medicine Clinic Seoul, Korea.
authors: Min-Seop
authors: MS
authors: Song
authors: Lee-Yonsei Internal Medicine Clinic Seoul, Korea.
authors: Seung-Baik
authors: SB
authors: Yun
authors: Jeong Hyeongkeun Internal Medicine Clinic Seoul, Korea.
authors: Hyung-Keun
authors: HK
authors: Chung
authors: Kwangyang Sacred Heart Internal Medicine Clinic Gwangyang, Korea.
authors: Jong-Ho
authors: JH
authors: Seong
authors: Yonsei Jeong Internal Medicine Clinic Seoul, Korea.
authors: Jin-Yi
authors: JY
authors: Jeong
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine Seoul, Korea.
authors: Bong-Yun
authors: BY
authors: Cha
keywords: Acarbose; Long-acting insulin; Type 2 diabetes