A patient with type two diabetes has been prescribed miglitol, an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor. The nurse should instruct the patient to take this medication as follows:

If you forget to take it with your meal, skip the dose until your next meal.
Take with the first bite of a meal.

Explanation

•Miglitol inhibits carbohydrate absorption and should be taken with the first bite of every meal.

•It only works with food, so if the dose is forgotten at a meal, the dose is skipped.

•The timing should be emphasized because taking the medication too soon reduces the effects while taking it after meals has no effect.

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