DOC News December 1, 2006
Volume 3 Number 12 p. 11
© 2006 American Diabetes Association
Drug Doesn't Delay Progression to Diabetes
Treating postprandial hyperglycemia with acarbose does not delay
progression of early type 2 diabetes, according to a report from Early
Diabetes Intervention Program researchers.
Postprandial hyperglycemia is typical of early diabetes, but the
researchers point out that by the time a person is diagnosed with diabetes the
disease has been present for 9–12 years. As beta-cells fail, the
patient's glycemic control deteriorates until progressing to fasting
hyperglycemia.
The study included 219 participants with early diabetes who were randomly
assigned to receive 100 mg acarbose three times a day or placebo. They were
followed for 5 years or until they had two consecutive quarterly fasting
plasma glucose measurements 
140 mg/dl.
Although acarbose significantly reduced postprandial hyperglycemia, no
differences were detected between the treatment and placebo groups in terms of
progression to frank diabetes. The two groups also showed no differences in
oral glucose tolerance test values, measures of insulin resistance, or other
measures of beta-cell function.
"Ameliorating postprandial hyperglycemia did not appear to delay
progression of early type 2 diabetes," the researchers conclude.
"Factors other than postprandial hyperglycemia may be greater
determinants of progression of diabetes."
Kirkman MS, Shankar RR, Shankar S, et al.: Treating
postprandial hyperglycemia does not appear to delay progression of early type
2 diabetes: The Early Diabetes Intervention Program. Diabetes
Care 29:2095–2101, 2006[Abstract/Free Full Text]
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