Diabetes prevention: Meta-analysis finds glitazones superior to other oral antidiabetic drug classes
July 15th 2010A systematic review assessing the comparative effectiveness of oral anti-diabetic drugs for preventing patients at high risk from progressing to type 2 diabetes has found glitazones (pioglitazone, rosiglitazone), biguanides (metformin), and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (AGIs; acarbose, voglibose) reduced the relative risk of diabetes by as much as 63%, whereas insulin secretagogues (sulfonylureas and glinides) had no effect.
MTM bill seeks to help seniors manage medications, reduce healthcare costs
July 15th 2010Sens. Kay R. Hagan (D-N.C.) and Al Franken (D-Minn.) have introduced The Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Expanded Benefits Act, a bill that will allow seniors with one chronic illness to thoroughly review all their medications with a pharmacist in a one-on-one session.
FDA announces ongoing cardiovascular safety review of olmesartan
July 15th 2010FDA has announced that the agency is currently evaluating whether the use of the angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) olmesartan (Benicar, Daiichi Sankyo; also sold in combination with hydrocholorothiazide as Benicar HCT) was associated with increased cardiovascular mortality.
ADA 2010: Blood-pressure target for high-risk type 2 diabetics still an open question
July 1st 2010At 5 years? follow-up, intensive blood-pressure reduction to a target systolic blood pressure (SBP) less than 120 mm Hg did not reduce the risk of a composite cardiovascular outcome, compared with a target SBP of less than 140 mm Hg in patients with type 2 diabetes at high risk of cardiovascular events, although it did reduce the incidence of stroke, said William Cushman, MD, who presented the results from the blood pressure portion of the ACCORD (Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes) study to a gathering at the 70th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association in Orlando, Fla.
ADA 2010: Diabetic retinopathy reduced by intensive glucose control, but risk of death increases
July 1st 2010Five-year data from a seminal study in patients with type 2 diabetes who are at especially high risk of heart disease show that intensive glucose control does slow the progression of microvascular disease, but mortality is increased and there is no benefit on macrovascular complications.
ADA 2010: Findings add fuel to the rosiglitazone controversy
July 1st 2010A new post-hoc study of rosiglitazone and cardiac events in patients with type 2 diabetes is adding to the controversy surrounding the thiazolidinedione (TZD) agent. Lead author Richard Bach, MD, associate professor of medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Mo., presented the new data during a late-breaking clinical study symposium Tuesday morning at the 70th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association, taking place in Orlando, Fla.
ADA 2010: Community-based lifestyle program helps overweight/obese shed pounds, lower blood glucose
July 1st 2010A community-based behavioral lifestyle intervention results in significant reductions in glycated hemoglobin, fasting blood glucose, and body weight in overweight/obese individuals with prediabetes, said David Goff Jr, MD, PHD.