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Effects of the α ‐glucosidase inhibitor acarbose on the development of long‐term complications in diabetic animals: pathophysiological and therapeutic implications
Author(s) -
Creutzfeldt Werner
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
diabetes/metabolism research and reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.307
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1520-7560
pISSN - 1520-7552
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1520-7560(199907/08)15:4<289::aid-dmrr48>3.0.co;2-v
Subject(s) - acarbose , postprandial , medicine , diabetes mellitus , type 2 diabetes , glycation , endocrinology , pathophysiology , insulin , animal studies
Short‐term studies with acarbose have demonstrated its efficacy in reducing postprandial blood glucose levels and glycated haemoglobin (HbA 1c ) levels. These effects would be expected to translate into improvements in long‐term complications of diabetes, but such data are not yet available due to the long follow‐up times required. Animal models of diabetes have, however, demonstrated the efficacy of acarbose in combating the long‐term complications of the disease. The 18 animal studies reviewed here showed that acarbose treatment reduced postprandial blood glucose concentrations and decreased protein glycation. Through these actions, acarbose delayed or prevented the onset of renal, retinal, lens and neurological changes and the development of ischaemic myocardial lesions. Acarbose treatment can therefore be expected to benefit patients with Type 2 and, in combination with insulin, Type 1 diabetes. This is being investigated in ongoing clinical studies in patients with Type 2 diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.