This article is from the WebMD News Archive
Diabetes Drug Actos May Cut Heart Risk
Diabetes Raises Heart Disease Risks; Actos May Lower Those Risks
Reviewed by
Louise Chang, MD
Dec. 5, 2006 -- The diabetes drug Actos may trump an older diabetes drug at lowering heart disease risk in diabetes patients.
Diabetes makes heart attacks and heart disease more likely.
A new study compares two diabetes drugs -- Actos and glimepiride -- in 462 adults with type 2 diabetes.
The key finding: Patients taking Actos had less wall thickening of their carotid arteries -- which bring blood through the neck to the brain -- over 18 months.
"Additional data needs to be brought to bear," researcher Theodore Mazzone, MD, says in a news release.
"However," he adds, "this is very helpful for suggesting that [Actos] could be a useful, novel approach for managing cardiovascular risk in patients with diabetes."
Mazzone works at the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical School.
The study appears in The Journal of the American Medical Association.
Different Methods of Action
The study's two drugs work differently.
Actos boosts the body's sensitivity to insulin, a hormone that controls blood sugar. Glimepiride, sold generically and as Amaryl, spurs the body to make more insulin.
Actos was approved by the FDA in 1999. Glimepiride was approved in 1995.
Mazzone's team studied a racially diverse group of Chicago-area diabetes patients.
When the study started, the patients were 60 years old, on average. They had "good" blood sugar control and most were using diabetes drugs, the researchers note.
Most patients were also taking blood pressure drugs and cholesterol-lowering statin drugs. They were free to keep taking those drugs during the study.
Before-and-After Images
The researchers gave the patients Actos or glimepiride for 18 months.
Before-and-after ultrasound images show less thickening of the carotid artery walls in the Actos group over 18 months.
The carotid artery wall's thickness is a measure of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), the researchers note.
"The less the thickening, and the slower the rate of thickening, the less risk of heart attack in general," Mazzone says in a university news release.
Few side effects -- and no heart-related deaths -- were reported in either group. However, both drugs can have side effects.
Patients taking Actos gained slightly more weight (7 pounds) than those taking glimepiride (about 2 pounds), on average.
The study was funded by Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, which makes Actos. Takeda is a WebMD sponsor.
© 2006 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved.
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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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