OBJECTIVE: To study the efficiency and safety of domestic and imported acarbose. Methods: 136 patients with
type 2 diabetes
inadequately controlled with diet and /or sulfonylurea were randomly assigned to receive additional treatment with domestic (69 cases) or imported (67 cases) acarbose for eight weeks. Results: 120 cases completed the whole trial and the results were obtained from them. The addition of acarbose to patients on blankground therapy showed statistically significant reductions in fasting and
postprandial plasma glucose levels(Fasting group glucose: 8.9±l .6 to 7.7±1 .6 mmol.L-(-1), imported: from 8.5±1.0 to 7.4±1 .2 mmol.L-(-1), 2-hour postprandial glucose: domestic,from 15.0±2.5 to 11.3±3.0 mmol.L-(-1), imported: from 14.6±2.6 to 10.2±2.3 mmol.L-(-1)and in mean HbAlc (domestic: from 7.2±0.9% to 6.4±1.l%, imported: from 6.8±0.9% to 6.2±0.9%). Both acarbose therapies statistically decreased the postprandial level of insulin, and fasting serum insulin tended to reduce. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding these changes. Gastrointestinal adverse reaction were more frequently reported in the acarbose treatment. Only one case treated with imported acarbose had asymptomatic elevations in serum transaminases associated with the drug that became normal soon after acarbose withdrew. CONCLUSION: The domestic and imported acarbose have a similar efficiency and safety in the treatment of patients with
type 2 diabetes.