Precose

A healthcare provider may prescribe Precose to help lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Precose works by slowing the digestion of carbohydrates from the diet, helping to decrease the rise in blood sugar that usually happens after meals. Common side effects can include gas, diarrhea, and abdominal pain (or stomach pain). The medication comes in tablet form and is taken three times a day.

Precose Drug Info

What Is Precose?

Precose^® (acarbose) is a prescription medication that is used to treat type 2 diabetes (also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes or adult-onset diabetes).

(Click Precose Uses for more information on what this medicine is used for, including possible off-label uses.)

Who Makes It?

Precose is made by Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

How Does It Work?

Precose is part of a class of diabetes drugs called alpha glucosidase inhibitors. The medicine slows the digestion of carbohydrates from the diet, which helps to decrease the rise in blood sugar that usually happens after meals.

Precose Effects

There have been several studies looking at the effects of Precose for type 2 diabetes.

Hemoglobin A1c

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is a test used to measure long-term blood sugar control. For people without diabetes, HbA1c results are usually less than 6 percent. People with diabetes usually have higher results. In one previous study, people taking Precose lowered their HbA1c by 0.44 to 1 percent on average.

Studies have shown that the higher the HbA1c, the greater the chance of developing long-term problems related to diabetes. These problems can include heart disease, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic neuropathy, and diabetic nephropathy. By getting blood sugar levels under control with Precose, it may be possible to decrease the chances of developing these diabetes complications.

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