Drugs originally developed to treat Alzheimer’s Disease could be re-purposed to prevent, or possibly even reverse, the damage done to the blood vessels in people who have obesity or type 2 diabetes, researchers say. Both type 2 and obesity can contribute to stiffening of blood vessels, which increases risk for heart attack or stroke. Read […]
Recent research into the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist drug dulaglutide (Trulicity) suggest it may lower cognitive decline in type 2 diabetes, possibly in association with reduced risk of stroke associated with the drug. Read more
A new study shows that metformin, a common type 2 diabetes drug, may have a previously unknown mechanism of action, involving the release of sugars in the blood from the intestines into the stool. Better understanding of how metformin works could eventually lead to development of new and improved diabetes medications. Read more
Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, is urging the FDA to strengthen its warnings that SGLT-2 inhibitors are associated with increased risk of diabetic ketoacidosis, due to hundreds of cases of this potentially fatal condition in people with type 1 diabetes. SGLT-2 inhibitors are not currently approved for use in type 1 diabetes in the […]
In treating type 2 diabetes, the first-line option is typically metformin. When metformin alone isn’t achieving the patient’s goals, the second and third-line options for pharmacological treatment are complex, with multiple drug classes and multiple drugs within those classes. A new analysis looks at the pros and cons of some key combinations. Read more
Imeglimin is a new, first-in-class blood-glucose-lowering drug. It is currently in phase 3 trials and has so far proven to be safe and efficient whether used alone or in combination with other drugs to lower A1C in patients with type 2 diabetes. Read more
Long term, consistent therapy is essential with metformin for it to be effective in lowering A1c and hospitalization rates. A large UK based study set out to investigate patterns that may lead some patients to discontinuation of metformin therapy. Read more
Researchers are looking at whether DPP4 inhibitors, a class of diabetes drugs, may be useful in treating COVID-19. There is some research indicating that DPP4 is directly involved in the cell adhesion and virulence of the virus causing COVID-19, which means inhibition of DPP4 may help treat this novel coronavirus. Read more
A Korean study found that among people with both colorectal cancer and diabetes, the patients who took their oral diabetes drugs as prescribed had a significantly reduced risk of overall mortality, compared with those with lower adherence to their medications. Read more
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) joined the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in announcing the Part D Senior Savings Model, which will limit the cost of insulin for participating seniors to a maximum of $35 for a 30-day supply. Read more
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has asked five drugmakers to recall their versions of the popular diabetes drug metformin after laboratory tests found they contained elevated levels of a chemical called N-Nitrosodimethylamine, which has been linked to cancer. However, patients using metformin should continue taking the drug until their doctor can prescribe a […]
A recent study conducted a risk assessment of cardiovascular disease, studying adherence to lipid-lowering medications in people with type 1 diabetes, to better understand how decreasing lipids could impact patients with type 1. Read more
Researchers have found that people with type 2 diabetes who were prescribed metformin prior to undergoing a major surgery had reduced risks for mortality and readmission in the 90 days following the procedure, according to a study recently published in JAMA Surgery. Read more
A clinical trial is being conducted by the pharma company AstraZeneca and Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas City in which hospitalized COVID-19 patients are given the diabetes drug Farxiga. The blood-sugar-lowering effects of the drug cannot combat the coronavirus itself, but researchers are looking for signs it may reduce the risk of some […]
The European Medicines Agency has extended the indication for dapagliflozin for patients with type 1 diabetes, as well as type 2. Still, these treatments have not been FDA approved for type 1 patients in the US. Two trials were conducted to assess how dapagliflozin performed when it was added to the medication regimen for a patient […]
“Authorized generic” versions of two popular insulins made by Eli Lilly are now available to order by U.S. pharmacies, with list prices 50% lower than the Lilly’s branded equivalents. The two insulins are insulin lispro protamine and insulin lispro injectable suspension (Humalog Mix 75/25 KwikPen) and insulin lispro injection 100 U/mL (Humalog Junior KwikPen). Read […]
New research is underway in the attempt to find potential treatments for the novel coronavirus COVID-19. The widely used diabetes drug metformin is among those being examined. Read more
New research found a decrease in the incidence of type 2 diabetes by 24%, based on an analysis of six previous randomized controlled studies, among patients using ACE inhibitors. These blood pressure drugs may also be a way to help prevent type 2 diabetes, especially in those with a history of high blood pressure. Read […]
Researchers are working on a pill designed to release nutrients rapidly into the small intestine and stimulate the release of GLP-1 and several other appetite-suppressing hormones, mimicking what happens after gastric bypass surgery. A clinical trial studied the effects of the ingestion of a single dose of a nutrient pill in patients with obesity and […]
Rosiglitazone, a drug originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1999 under the name Avandia. The drug has already been suspended in Europe and restricted in use in the US due to concerns about how it may affect heart health, but the strength […]
