analysis made of best 3 meds for diabetics

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Researchers in Taipei, Taiwan, report that they have identified the top

three drugs for reducing A1C

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/a1c-test/> levels in type

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/community/type-2-issues/> 2 diabetes

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/> : biphasic insulin

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/medications/insulin/> , GLP-1 analogs,

and basal insulin. They hedged a little on their endorsement of GLP-1

analogs, however, by saying that although they are not decisively better at

controlling A1Cs than other oral diabetes drugs, they have the advantage of

helping to reduce weight without adding to the danger of hypoglycemia

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/low-blood-sugar

/> .

Biphasic insulin is a combination of intermediate- and fast-acting insulin.

Basal insulin is the standard dose a person with diabetes takes daily, often

supplement <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/food/supplements/> ed by

shorter-term bolus insulin to cover blood sugar

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/blood-sugar/> spikes at

meals. GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1) analogs, which include exenatide and

liraglutide, are derived from a gut hormone that helps increase insulin

production and sensitivity and reduce glucagon production in the pancreas. A

beneficial side effect is weight reduction.

The scientists at the Mackay Memorial Hospital, Division of Endocrinology

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/health-care/endocrinology/> and

Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, reached their

conclusion after conducting a meta-analysis of drugs used to treat type 2

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/community/type-2-issues/> diabetes

that was inadequately controlled by metformin

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/medications/metformin/> . The analysis

eventually studied 819 articles on diabetes drugs, including coverage of 39

controlled trials that involved almost 18,000 patients.

Overall, GLP-1 analogs were found to lead to a greater decrease in A1C

levels than sulfonylureas, glinides, thiazolidinediones, alpha-glucosidase

inhibitors, and DPP-4 inhibitors, producing results similar to those of

basal and biphasic insulin.

According to the Taiwanese researchers, the meta-analysis also showed that

compared with placebo, sulfonylureas, glinides, basal insulin, and biphasic

insulin carried an increased risk of hypoglycemia.

While the study conclusions are interesting, the researchers cautioned that

of the studies they reviewed, the longest was only 52 weeks-not long enough

to establish a definitive long-term trend.

_____

Categories:A1C

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/a1c/> , A1C

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/a1c-levels/> Levels,

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/community/diabetes/>