This article is from the WebMD News Archive
Acomplia May Be Effective for Diabetes
Weight Loss Drug Produced Modest Improvements in Blood Sugar Control, Study Shows
Reviewed by
Louise Chang, MD
Oct. 26, 2006 -- A highly anticipated weight loss drug may also be an effective treatment for type 2 diabetes.
Overweight or obese people with diabetes who took the drug Acomplia for a year, in combination with diet and exercise, had modest but significant improvements in blood sugar control and cholesterol, along with modest weight loss.
Acomplia has not yet been approved for sale in the U.S., but it is being sold in Europe.
In the new study, 1,047 overweight or obese people with type 2 diabetes who were already on an oral diabetes drug were randomly assigned to also take either a placebo, 5 milligrams of Acomplia, or 20 milligrams of Acomplia daily.
After a year of treatment, patients who took the higher dose of Acomplia had lost an average of 11.7 pounds, compared with 3 pounds among patients in the placebo group and 5 pounds among patients who took the lower dose of the drug.
Patients taking the higher dose of Acomplia also showed greater improvements in waist circumference, HDL "good" cholesterol levels, triglyceride (blood fat) levels, and blood sugar control.
The study appears in the Oct. 27 online edition of the journal The Lancet. It was funded by Acomplia's maker, Sanofi-Aventis. Sanofi-Aventis is a WebMD sponsor.
The researchers reported that improvements in cholesterol and blood sugar were twice what would have been expected from weight loss alone, indicating that the weight loss drug has an independent effect on these diabetes risk factors.
Second Opinion on Study
Two diabetes experts who wrote an editorial accompanying the study conclude that it is premature to assume that Acomplia has a direct impact on diabetes risk factors, over and above its ability to promote weight loss.
Stephen Cleland and Naveed Sattar also express concern about the high dropout rate among study participants. Of the 1,047 patients who were recruited, only 692 (66%) completed the one-year study.
The dropout rate was roughly the same for patients in all three arms of the study, and most patients did not drop out because of side effects.
But 11 patients (3%) who took the higher dose of Acomplia cited depressiondepression as a reason for dropping out of the study. None of the patients in the lower-dose arm of the study dropped out because of depression; three patients (0.9%) in the placebo arm dropped out for this reason.
"The suggestion that [Acomplia] increases depression and anxiety is concerning," Cleland and Sattar write.
More Options
The prescription weight loss drugs that are available in the U.S. are not routinely used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes because of worries about side effects.
Larry Deeb, MD, of the American Diabetes Association, tells WebMD that a safe and effective weight loss drug would be a welcome addition to the growing list of drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes.
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Is This Normal?
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Your level is currently NormalHigh (hyperglycemia).Low (hypoglycemia). |
If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.
People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.
People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Your blood sugar level is slightly high. You should call your health care provider and ask if laboratory tests to check for diabetes are needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Congratulations on taking steps to manage your health.
However, it's important to continue to track your numbers so that you can make lifestyle changes if needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your level is currently normal. However, if you are concerned about diabetes speak with your physician. There may be other risk factors that increase your risk for diabetes.
Your level is high if this reading was taken before eating. Aim for 70-130 before meals and less than 180 two hours after meals.
Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.
One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your blood sugar level may be high, depending on when you last ate. If you have not eaten for at least 8 hours, your blood sugar should be less than 100. If you've eaten within the last 2 hours, your blood sugar should be less than 140. You should call your health care provider and ask if you need laboratory tests to check for diabetes. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Blood sugars consistently above 180 warrant prompt medical attention.
Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.
One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your blood sugar level is high. You should call your health care provider and ask if laboratory tests to check for diabetes are needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
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