Highlights
Drug Approvals
- Exenatide (Byetta) is a new type of injectable drug for patients who cannot control their blood sugar with oral drugs. Approved in 2005, Exenatide is used in combination with oral medication.
- Exubera, an inhaled insulin, was approved in 2006. It is the first non-injected form of insulin.
- Pramlintide (Symlin) is a new injectable drug that is taken in combination with insulin. Approved in 2005, it is only for patients who cannot control their blood sugar with insulin therapy alone.
Drug Warning
Rosiglitazone (Avandia) may cause or worsen swelling in the macular region of the eye’s retina. Most patients who experienced this problem also had swelling in their legs and feet. The condition usually improves once the drug is stopped.
Investigational Drugs
Gliptins such as vildagliptin (Galvus) and sitagliptin (Januvia) are a new type of drug showing promise in late-stage clinical trials. Researchers are studying them in combination with metformin or thiazolidinediones.
Diabetes and High Blood Pressure
- A thiazide-type diuretic works as well as an ACE inhibitor or calcium channel blocker for controlling blood pressure in patients with diabetes and high blood pressure, according to results from the 2005 Antihypertensive and Lipid Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT). However, ACE inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) have special benefits for protecting the kidneys in patients with diabetes.
- Some types of high blood pressure drugs may increase the risk for developing diabetes in patients with pre-diabetes, suggests several 2006 studies.
Diabetes and Cholesterol
- Patients with diabetes and heart disease should aim for LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels below 70 mg/dL, recommends the American Diabetes Association.
- A 2006 study suggested that high-dose atorvastatin (Lipitor) therapy may help these patients reduce their risk of heart attack and stroke by 25%.
