Can α-Glucosidase Inhibitors Reduce the Insulin Dosage Administered to Patients with Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus?

Abstract

For 10 patients (three women and seven men) with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, who had been given insulin (22.6 ± 19.6 U/day) and had frequently shown hypo-glycaemia, the insulin dose was slightly reduced and the administration of an α-glucosidase inhibitor was simultaneously started. Hypoglycaemic symptoms disappeared immediately and completely, and sugar metabolism immediately before the withdrawal of treatment was not aggravated: the glycosylated haemoglobin level was unchanged and the post-prandial blood glucose level was increased though not significantly. The results of the present study indicate that the combined use of an α-glucosidase inhibitor with a reduced insulin dose improves the quality of life of patients and may improve hyperinsulinaemia.