Antidiabetic drugs: acarbose: practice question

A Pharmacology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pharmacology · Antidiabetic drugs: acarbose

Sample item

A man with type 2 diabetes on insulin and acarbose has a hypoglycaemic episode with sweating and confusion at home. What should he be advised to take for treatment?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Oral glucose or dextrose tablets

Acarbose inhibits intestinal alpha-glucosidases, delaying the breakdown of sucrose and complex carbohydrates into absorbable monosaccharides. Hypoglycaemia in a patient on acarbose must therefore be treated with pure glucose, which needs no digestion. Sucrose, milk lactose and starch are absorbed slowly or incompletely.

Option by option

  • A. A slice of wholemeal bread

    Bread is a complex carbohydrate, and its digestion is delayed by acarbose.

  • B. A glass of cold milk

    Milk has slowly absorbed lactose and protein and acts too slowly in an emergency.

  • C. Oral glucose or dextrose tablets (correct)

    Correct. Glucose is absorbed directly even when alpha-glucosidases are inhibited.

  • D. Table sugar dissolved in water

    Sucrose must be split by alpha-glucosidase and so is absorbed slowly with acarbose.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Pharmacology question

What is the answer to this Pharmacology question?

The best answer is C, Oral glucose or dextrose tablets. Acarbose inhibits intestinal alpha-glucosidases, delaying the breakdown of sucrose and complex carbohydrates into absorbable monosaccharides.

Why is "A slice of wholemeal bread" not the answer?

Bread is a complex carbohydrate, and its digestion is delayed by acarbose.

Why is "A glass of cold milk" not the answer?

Milk has slowly absorbed lactose and protein and acts too slowly in an emergency.

Why is "Table sugar dissolved in water" not the answer?

Sucrose must be split by alpha-glucosidase and so is absorbed slowly with acarbose.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Antidiabetic drugs: acarbose in Pharmacology. Hypoglycaemia in a patient on acarbose must therefore be treated with pure glucose, which needs no digestion. Sucrose, milk lactose and starch are absorbed slowly or incompletely.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Antidiabetic drugs: acarbose?

Learn drugs as classes, then the exception in each class that an examiner would pick. Then use the flashcards and the other Pharmacology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.