Key takeaways
Repaglinide and acarbose are both oral medications used to help control blood sugar in adults with Type 2 diabetes. However, they belong to different medication classes and have some important differences. Repaglinide stimulates the pancreas to release more insulin, while acarbose slows down the digestion of carbohydrates in the gut. Repaglinide is typically taken as 0.5 mg to 4 mg oral tablet before each meal, whereas acarbose is taken with the first bite of each main meal and starts at 25 mg by mouth three times daily. Both medications are avaiable only as a lower-cost generic. Repaglinide can cause low blood sugar and weight gain, while acarbose is less likely to cause low blood sugar but may lead to side effects like gas and diarrhea. Additionally, repaglinide can interact with many medications, whereas acarbose has specific contraindications, such as in people with certain gut problems or inflammatory bowel disease.
