Comparison of Therapeutic Effect of Acarbose and Metformin in Patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus

Objective To observe the clinical effect of the Acarbose and Metformin in the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus.Methods 80 patients with type II diabetes mellitus,who were poorly controlled by diet only or plus Sulfonylureas treatment,were randomized into two groups and treated for 16 weeks with either Acarbose 50～100mg tid (n=48) or Metformin 250 ～ 500mg tid (n=32) respectively.Results The results showed that both Acarbose ang Metformin led to a reduction of GHbA1c,the mean fasting and 2h postprandial blood glucose levels. The effective rate of reduction of the mean fasting blood glucose level with Metformin was higher than that of Acarbose (96.9% and 85.7%; P0.01),and the effective rate of reduction of the 2h postprandial blood glucose levels with Acarbose was higher than that of Metformin (97.6% and 93.8%; P0.01).The levels of GHbA.c were reduced in both groups (P0.01) but without statistically significant difference (P0.05).Conclusion The two medicines have no insulinotropic effect and do not affect the plasma liqid and the functions of liver and kidney.