Fig. 4

Impact of miglitol on glucose fluctuation, heart rate variability, and sympathetic nervous activity. a–d Plots of 24-h blood glucose measured by a continuous monitoring system in control and miglitol-treated patients. Lines indicate blood glucose levels on Day 1 and Day 2 in (a, c) control (n = 17) and (B, D) miglitol (n = 13) groups. To see daily variations of glucose levels, we divided time periods into 0700–1800 h (day-time), 1800–0000 h (night-time), and 0000–0700 h (bed-time). Patients took a standard regimen of breakfast, lunch and supper. The percentage values indicate the proportions of patients with episodes of glucose ≤4.44 mmol/L throughout the day, indicated by blue lines on the figures. e, f Mean variations in 24-h heart rate (HR) in the control and miglitol groups. Lines represent mean (solid) ± SD (dotted) of mean heart rate measured by Holter electrocardiography on Day 1 (black) and Day 2 (blue or red) in e control (n = 18) and f miglitol (n = 17) groups. To see daily variations of heart rate, we divided time periods into 0700–1800 h (day-time), 1800–0000 h (night-time), and 0000–0700 h (bed-time)