Avandia: Less Risky in Younger, Healthier Patients?
Aviandia Study 1 Piece of the Puzzle continued...
And diabetes drugs, Chrisman says, are only one leg of the unbalanced three-legged stool on which diabetes patients perch. The other two legs are diet and exercise.
"If you don't pay attention to any one of those legs, they will fall over," she says. "You can try to balance for a while, but it will fall over if you don't pay attention to what impacts you most."
Nissen notes that there is no evidence that Avandia offers any unique benefits not seen with Actos.
In July, an FDA advisory panel split over whether to recommend that Avandia be taken off the market. Twelve of the panel's 33 members said the drug should be withdrawn; all but three others recommended that the drug carry more severe safety warnings.
Final action by the FDA is pending. Meanwhile, a clinical trial directly comparing Avandia and Actos is on hold while the FDA grapples with the issue of whether it can ethically continue.
The Wertz study appears in the American Heart Association journal Circulation Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
Is This Normal? Get the Facts Fast!
Answer:
0-69
70-130
131+
Your level is currently
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.
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 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.
Did You Know Your Lifestyle Choices
Affect Your Blood Sugar?
Use the Blood Glucose Tracker to monitor
how well you manage your blood sugar over time.
This tool is not intended for women who are pregnant.
Step: of
Today in Diabetes
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
©2005-2013 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.