"Acarbose compared with metformin as initial therapy in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes: an open-label, non-inferiority randomised trial"  
Lancet
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(13)70021-4/fulltext 
"Interpretation

This study provides evidence that acarbose is similar to metformin in efficacy, and is therefore a viable choice for initial therapy in Chinese patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes."