Acarbose is one of the most effective medications for diabetes, but it isn’t as well-established as metformin or insulin. This has led to some common misconceptions about the drug. If you are considering going on acarbose, it is vital that you inform yourself about the drug. Read on to learn the truth about several common acarbose misconceptions.
Acarbose Misconceptions
It’s a Type of Insulin
One of the most common misconceptions about acarbose is that it’s a type of insulin. This misconception likely arose because the most common drugs used to treat diabetes are insulin and synthetic insulin. However, acarbose is not a type of insulin. Also, it does not affect your insulin levels directly.
Acarbose is Unsafe During Pregnancy
Pregnant women with diabetes may be reluctant to take acarbose, as some diabetes medications are unsafe for pregnant women. However, acarbose is considered to be safe for pregnant women. It is a category B drug for pregnant women, which means that it is probably safe to take. However, pregnant women should consult their doctors before taking acarbose. Breastfeeding women should also consult with their doctors before taking acarbose.
It Lasts for Days
Some diabetes drugs last for an entire day. However, acarbose lasts for a few hours per dose. Each dose is intended to prevent a severe blood sugar spike from one specific meal. This is why most doctors will instruct their patients to take acarbose three times a day or more if you eat more than three meals per day.
Acarbose Should Be Taken On an Empty Stomach
Many drugs should be taken on an empty stomach. However, acarbose should not be taken on an empty stomach. Acarbose should be taken with the first bite of every meal. If you forget to take it right away, you can still take your dose if you haven’t finished eating. If you have finished eating, you shouldn’t take the dose. You should simply take two doses of acarbose with your next meal.
It Cannot Be Taken With Metformin
Metformin is one of the most common and effective drugs for diabetes. If you have diabetes and you are thinking about going on acarbose, there’s a good chance that you’re already on metformin. If you’ve been having good results with metformin, you may be worried that you would have to go off the metformin to take acarbose.
Acarbose and metformin can be taken together. This is because the drugs act on different parts of your body. Acarbose and metformin are actually more effective when taken together than either drug is alone. Acarbose can also be taken with most other diabetes medications.
Acarbose Can Cause Low Blood Sugar
Acarbose is effective for preventing the blood sugar spikes that diebetic people sometimes suffer after meals. It does this by limiting the amount of sugar that your body absorbs from food. However, it does not lower the amount of sugar that is already in your blood. This means that acarbose will not cause low blood sugar.
