After a meal, blood sugar spikes. Acarbose blunts it. In a placebo-controlled trial, peak blood sugar at 90 min post-meal dropped from 19.0 to 15.5 mmol/L.
Source: Chiasson et al., Annals of Internal Medicine (1994)
Support Longevity
Support Longevity
Acarbose
Can slow how fast you digest carbs, supporting steadier blood sugar and lower insulin levels after eating.
From $25/mo*
*Billed quarterly with a three-month commitment paid up front.
Why Acarbose
Every carb creates a spike. Acarbose smooths the curve.
With acarbose
Without acarbose
In a head-to-head trial, acarbose dropped post-meal insulin by 80.7 pmol/L while other glucose-lowering medications raised it by 96.7, with the same blood sugar outcome.
Source: Hoffmann & Spengler, The Essen Study, Diabetes Care (1994)
Forty-one studies. 8,130 participants. Acarbose lowered post-meal blood sugar by 2.3 mmol/L and post-meal insulin by 133.2 pmol/L compared to other medications that force the pancreas to make more insulin, with no effect on body weight.
Source: Van de Laar et al., Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2005)
Acarbose mechanism of action
Helps slow carb digestion.
Acarbose works in the gut to slow how quickly carbohydrates from food are broken down into sugar. This can lead to steadier blood sugar after meals and may support beneficial changes in gut health.
Step 1
Enzymes blocked
Carbs break down slowly across a longer stretch of your intestine.
Step 2
Blood sugar stays steady
Less insulin released. Less fat stored. Fewer energy crashes.
Step 3
Gut bacteria fed
Undigested carbs ferment into compounds that signal fullness and support gut health.
Risk and limitations
What to know
Common side effects include gas, bloating, and loose stools. These should settle as your body adjusts to treatment. Contact your doctor if side effects are persistent or bothersome.
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