I've come across several comments in various research studies saying the results are consistent with beta cell burnout by sulfs. Being consistent with is, of course, not proof of burnout. Unfortunately, I didn't file the articles in any way that would allow me to find them.
The early drug phenformin, related to metformin, was said to increase heart disease, but my doctor said there were a lot of flaws in the studies of that drug.
I think the "bad" sulfs are the ones that work on the channels in heart cells as well as those in muscle cells. I've never looked into this, however, as I don't plan to take a sulf and I think they should only be used if a patient can't get metformin or is sensitive to it.
thanks! david...your timely, thoughtful, and well-written articles are what have made me a faithful follower of your site --- thank you so much for helping us stay abreast of new information and studies so that we can take better control our diabetes and become masters of our fate! we are all in your debt.
thanks!
pb
It would seem that there is a marked difference in action that would explain the results. But perhaps this is naive. If one class stimulates more insulin production and the other makes existing insulin more useful as the cells open up to it, then the first drug would end up putting more insulin in the system. As the diabetic is insulin resistant, the added insulin would also encourage the storing of more fat, increasing insulin resistance.
But that is the danger in using normal logic in medical areas. I could be quite wrong.
In Best Pills, Worst Pills, Dr Sidney Wolf states that all of the Sulfonureas are dangerous. They advocate exercise and diet first, and if that fails to use Insulin. I am not sure why so many people fear insulin other than the needle aspect.
I had tried Byetta ,sulfonureas, good diet and exercise and still had very brittle blood sugars. Taking Lantus at bedtime has kept me off most of the pills. I wish I could take Metformin......it makes me very ill.Still my HgH1C is not what I would like it to be. I am trying to increase my exercise. Wish I could stay as low carb as Dr Bernstein suggests.
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David, what is it about the secretalogues, as you call them, that might be hastening or increasing incidence of heart or other fatal conditions? Does the Denmark study also take into account any geographical or socio-economic differences in why certain groups might get one kind of medication versus the other, or age at diagnosis?
Either way, interesting stuff ... thanks for writing about it.
They didn't slice and dice the results, which in any case can be a dangerous thing to do. And they don't speculate why the difference. I suggested, of course, that the difference is beta cell burnout, but we still have no evidence about that one way or the other.