Acarbose blocks the gut enzymes that break starch down into sugar. Less sugar is absorbed quickly after a meal, so the spike in blood glucose that follows rice, roti and other starchy foods is flattened out.

What Acarbose Is Used For

Type 2 diabetes, particularly high readings after meals
Add on treatment when metformin alone is not enough
Some cases of prediabetes, on medical advice

Common Side Effects

Gas and bloating, very common at first
Loose motions
Stomach cramps

Precautions

It must be taken with the first bite of the meal, since it has to meet the starch as it arrives. Wind and bloating usually settle over a few weeks and are less troublesome if the dose is built up slowly. If a hypo occurs while also on insulin or a sulfonylurea, treat it with glucose rather than ordinary sugar or a sweet drink, because acarbose slows the breakdown of table sugar.

This page is general information only. It is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist, and it does not include dosage. Always follow the directions given to you and read the leaflet inside the pack.