What are acarbose tablets used for?

Acarbose is an oral medication primarily used to manage Type 2 diabetes. It belongs to a class of drugs known as alpha-glucosidase inhibitors.

Unlike many other diabetes medications, acarbose does not significantly alter insulin levels. Instead, it works within the gastrointestinal tract to manage blood sugar levels after eating.

How It Works

Acarbose inhibits the enzymes (alpha-glucosidase) in the small intestine that break down complex carbohydrates into glucose.

• Delayed Digestion: It slows down the digestion of starches and sugars.

• Flattening the Spike: By slowing glucose absorption, it prevents the sharp rise in blood glucose levels that typically occurs immediately after a meal (postprandial hyperglycemia).

Clinical Uses

• Monotherapy: Used alone alongside diet and exercise to control blood sugar.

• Combination Therapy: Often prescribed in conjunction with other antidiabetic agents like Metformin, sulfonylureas, or insulin when a single medication is insufficient.

  Prediabetes (Off-label): Sometimes used to delay the progression to Type 2 diabetes in high-risk individuals.

Key Technical Considerations

• Administration: It must be taken with the first bite of a main meal to be effective.

  Hypoglycemia Management: If a patient experiences low blood sugar while taking acarbose in combination with other meds, they must use pure glucose (dextrose). Regular table sugar (sucrose) or complex carbs will not work quickly enough because the acarbose is actively blocking their breakdown.

  Common Side Effects: Due to the fermentation of unabsorbed carbohydrates in the colon, GI effects like flatulence, diarrhea, and abdominal pain are very common.

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