Alpha-glucosidase inhibitor
- Slows intestinal carbohydrate breakdown
- Blunts postprandial glucose rise
- Undigested carbohydrate reaches the colon → flatulence/diarrhea
- Treat hypoglycemia with glucose, not sucrose
Drugs with this mechanism (2)
- Acarbose — Alpha-glucosidase inhibitor blunting post-meal glucose; flatulence limits use.
- Voglibose — Intestinal alpha-glucosidase inhibitor that blunts postmeal glucose rises; flatulence and diarrhea, with little hypoglycemia alone.
Self-check
- What treats hypoglycemia during alpha-glucosidase inhibition?
Glucose, not sucrose. - Why can alpha-glucosidase inhibition cause flatulence?
Undigested carbohydrate reaches the colon.
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