Health Discoveries in General Health News
Combined drugs provide blood control for diabetes patients
December 8, 2010
People with type 2 diabetes may have better blood control when they combine exenatide, a new diabetes drug, with insulin, according to the December issue of Annals of Internal Medicine.
Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine found that the combination also promotes weight loss.
"This study may be the best result ever for patients whose diabetes is inadequately controlled on a combination of pills and insulin," said Dr. John Buse, chief of the university's Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism. "Until now, it was inconceivable that you could get such patients under excellent control with weight loss and no significant problems with hypoglycemia."
The study was conducted in five countries - Greece, Israel, Mexico, the U.K. and the U.S. - and included 138 participants who took both exenatide and insulin. Sixty percent of them achieved nearly normal blood sugar levels. However, they also experienced minor side effects, including nausea and diarrhea.
A diabetes study under way within the North Shore-LIJ Health System is identifying emergency room patients who may be at risk for diabetes so they can be referred to their primary care doctors to address their condition.
Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine found that the combination also promotes weight loss.
"This study may be the best result ever for patients whose diabetes is inadequately controlled on a combination of pills and insulin," said Dr. John Buse, chief of the university's Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism. "Until now, it was inconceivable that you could get such patients under excellent control with weight loss and no significant problems with hypoglycemia."
The study was conducted in five countries - Greece, Israel, Mexico, the U.K. and the U.S. - and included 138 participants who took both exenatide and insulin. Sixty percent of them achieved nearly normal blood sugar levels. However, they also experienced minor side effects, including nausea and diarrhea.
A diabetes study under way within the North Shore-LIJ Health System is identifying emergency room patients who may be at risk for diabetes so they can be referred to their primary care doctors to address their condition.