Pioglitazone

If you have type 2 diabetes, Pioglitazone may be the medications for you. In addition to a proper diet and a weight loss program, pioglitazone can significantly produce conditions for the insulin receptors in your body to be more sensitive. Pioglitazone, works by not only increasing your sensitivity to insulin, but is also helps control blood sugar levels. You body has to produce insulin for pioglitazone to work. If you cannot produce insulin you have type 1 diabetes and should not take this medication. Pioglitazone is specifically designed for type 2 diabetes and can help you mange your diabetic problems.

If you have type 2 diabetes, Pioglitazone may be the medications for you. In addition to a proper diet and a weight loss program, pioglitazone can significantly produce conditions for the insulin receptors in your body to be more sensitive. Pioglitazone, works by not only increasing your sensitivity to insulin, but is also helps control blood sugar levels. You body has to produce insulin for pioglitazone to work. If you cannot produce insulin you have type 1 diabetes and should not take this medication. Pioglitazone is specifically designed for type 2 diabetes and can help you mange your diabetic problems.

Pioglitazone is taken orally one or twice a day. You can take the medication with or without meals which are a plus compared to other many diabetic medications. This medication must be taken in accordance to the directions on the bottle. If you don’t understand the directions ask the doctor to explain them to you. With this drug you do not want to go off on your own tangent and take more or less of the drug that is necessary. Like cholesterol medicine, the doctor may start you off on a low dose of pioglitazone and slowly increase it as the changes in your blood sugar levels are monitored. Minor blood tests may be required to do this.

Pioglitazone was created to control your diabetes. It does not cure as all. As you take pioglitazone you may notice that your doctor raises the dosage after a couple of weeks. The reason for this is that it takes about two weeks for the drug to actually start changing your blood sugar levels and the original dose might not be enough. Like cholesterol and high blood pressure medicines, do not stop taking this treatment if you think you are fine. You may feel well and think you do not need to take the meds anymore, but if you stop without a doctor’s say so, you may set yourself up for some serious complications.

As with all diabetic medicines you need to monitor your blood sugar levels. If you start to feel dizzy or light headed, that may be the sign that your blood sugar is dropping. If you start to tremble or become nauseous, immediately treat the low blood sugar and seek the attention of your doctor. If you do not treat the hyperglycemia you may be at risk of more severe symptoms that may include death. This is not a subtle warning; if the low sugar is not taken care of you are putting your life in jeopardy.

Pioglitazone has been paired with metformin, another diabetes medicine, to help stimulate insulin receptors in a drug called Actoplus Met. This medicine has had dramatic results and treating and maintaining type 2 diabetes has never been easier. Ask your doctor about pioglitazone and see if it or Actoplus Met is right for you. Let him know all your pre-conditions such as allergies or kidney problems so the doctor can prescribe the medication accordingly and correctly.

Glucophage

What exactly is Glucophage and who should use it? Glucophage is for diabetes patients and is an oral medicine that aids in managing blood your blood sugar levels. Is Glucophage for anyone with any type of diabetes? Glucophage is for those with type 2 diabetes who do not rely on insulin. Glucophage is not a treatment for Type 1 diabetes; it might be used in combination with another medication, but is not to be used as a sole source of medication for those with Type 1 diabetes. Glucophage helps to lower your blood sugar by slowing sugar creation and absorption. This in turn assists your body in reacting better to its own insulin. This then encourages the processing of sugar, but does cause an increase of the body’s creation of insulin. Glucophage is an oral medication for the treatment of diabetes.

What should you know before you start taking this medication? Are there any factors that wouldn’t make you a good candidate for Glucophage? There is in fact important information that you should familiarize yourself with before you start taking Glucophage. It’s important to know the ins and outs of a medication to avoid any potential issues or interactions. You shouldn’t take Glucophage if you have kidney disease. If you begin to experience any type of ketoacidosis reaction, you need to seek medical treatment.

Ketoacidosis is when you have dangerous levels of ketones in your body. Ketoacidosis can cause you to go into a diabetic coma if not treated properly; Glucophage is not a treatment for Ketoacidosis. Another factor to consult with your doctor about is if you have any history of liver or heart disease in your family. This can be an important factor to determine if you are a good candidate for taking Glucophage. It’s also significant to mention your taking of Glucophage to any doctor before certain testing is done. Especially if you have to have an x-ray taken or a CT scan performed, Glucophage can interfere with these kinds of medical testing if the doctor is not aware of your prescription.

As with any type of medication there are chances of side effects, Glucophage is no different in this aspect. There is a certain amount of risk to be considered when taking Glucophage. In some people taking Glucophage has resulted in a life-threatening condition known as lactic acidosis. Lactic acidosis occurs when there is a build-up of lactic acids in the body. When taking Glucophage it is important to note any unusual side effects such as weakness, increased sleepiness, slow heart rate, cold or numb feeling, muscle pain, shortness of breath, stomach pain, light headiness, and fainting. All of these are symptoms of lactic acidosis and should be treated by medical professionals.

It’s imperative to know the warning signs of low blood sugar for anyone planning on taking Glucophage. It’s also vital that you share all of your medical history before taking this medication. If the doctor is not aware of all the factors of your medical history, they might prescribe Glucophage to someone who is not a good candidate for the medication. There are multiple factors to take into consideration before being prescribed Glucophage. Glucophage need to be used in addition to both diet and exercise in order to be effective.

Benfotiamine: Preventing Complications

Benfotiamine is a allithiamine which is a lipophilic form of thiamine. If you are like me, those are some medical words that I just don’t understand so let’s break those down a little bit. First of all we will stat with lipophilic. Lipophilic means ability for a chemical compound to dissolve itself into lipids, oils and fats. Thiamine is referred to as one of the B vitamins which is of course an antioxidant. Putting this all together we find out that Benfotiamine is a liquid form of the Vitamin B. That’s pretty simple, why can’t doctors just say that?

Benfotiamine is a allithiamine which is a lipophilic form of thiamine. If you are like me, those are some medical words that I just don’t understand so let’s break those down a little bit. First of all we will stat with lipophilic. Lipophilic means ability for a chemical compound to dissolve itself into lipids, oils and fats. Thiamine is referred to as one of the B vitamins which is of course an antioxidant. Putting this all together we find out that Benfotiamine is a liquid form of the Vitamin B. That’s pretty simple, why can’t doctors just say that?

Either way, Thiamine is used as an antioxidant that helps decrease the aging lines in both men and women. In a study noted, aging was decreased by 40%; however Thiamine is not just used for that purpose anymore. It has also become very successful for those who have diabetes. Amazingly successful, it is used to treat patients who are suffering from nerve damage and nerve pain. It has also helped those who have neuropathy, nephropathy and diabetic retinopathy.

Of course, this medication is good for other illnesses also such as vascular health complications, blood pressure, helps to protect cells, helps to protect nerves, fibromyalgia, prevents lactic acidosis and also has been found to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Many of the illnesses and diseases associated with lack of thiamine will be helped by benfotiamine.

This miracle mixture was invented by a group of Japanese scientists and in 1962 a U.S. patent was entered by the Japanese scientists. Granted, most like everything else namely tea, Japanese benfotiamine is the most pure form of this medication and is best bought there where you can get the most profound rewards from it. Since most people can’t just fly to Japan over night and get a hold of this medication most of us have to use what we have. The U.S. Patent mixture of benfotiamine has of course been found more effective. Vitamin B-1 which is benfotimine’s main ingredient has had a huge effect on people through-out history and is considered one of the best vitamins for those who have diabetes and who do not.

Vitamin B-1 (thiamine) helps to convert carbohydrates and fat into energy. It has also shown signs in helping to maintain a healthy heart, normal growth rate and helps to keep both your digestive tract and nervous system going on the right tracks.

Some of the signs that can show up if you are not getting enough B-1 vitamins in your body are: Fatigue, depression, constipation, enlarged liver, weakness, edema, heart changes, impaired mental functions, irritability, severe weight loss, pain and sensitivity, pins and needles sensations, poor coordination, nervousness, and weak and sore muscles.

Thiamine helps enhance circulation and assists blood flow, it has also treated anemia and been helpful in the treatment of neurological diseases. It has helped to improve people’s minds who have otherwise produced signs of Alzheimer’s disease and much more. For those who have developed heart disease it has shown to be very helpful and even those who have been diagnosed with infections and the STD Herpes. On a different note: it repels mosquitoes also.

Some people do not like medications or vitamins, if this is you then you can try eating more of the foods listed below as a way to boost you Vitamin b-1 level in order to help your treatments in diabetes.

Barley, beans pinto and red, brown rice, Brussels sprouts, egg yolks, milk, liver, fish, oatmeal, meat, legumes, rice bran, raisins, poultry, peas, plums, sunflower seeds, seafood, whole grains, watercress and wheat germ.

Metformin Reduces Symptoms Of Diabetes And Heart Disease

Metformin has become very popular in treating Type 2 diabetes it’s brand name is Glucophage. It is considered to be in the biguanides, it helps to lower the blood sugar levels within the body which handle insulin. Which prevents the liver from making unnecessary amounts of glucose and helps to make muscle and fat cells that are reduced to the sensitivity of insulin?

Metformin has become very popular in treating Type 2 diabetes it’s brand name is Glucophage. It is considered to be in the biguanides, it helps to lower the blood sugar levels within the body which handle insulin. Which prevents the liver from making unnecessary amounts of glucose and helps to make muscle and fat cells that are reduced to the sensitivity of insulin?

It can also lower things associated with heart problems like triglycerides and cholesterol levels. Some concerns with medications for diabetes is that they will cause Hypoglycemia. With Metformin you do not have that worry because if has been proven not to cause low blood sugar to show up. Metformin is usually just taken once a day at meal time.

There are some side effects however that come with taken Metformin for diabetes and those are nausea and diarrhea which tend to usually go away in progression of medicine. Sometimes however a more serious condition referred to as lactic acidosis. This condition cause’s lactic acid to build up in the blood stream, this condition doesn’t happen to everyone who is taking Metformine, it is more subjective to those who have kidney disease congestive heart failure or liver disease.

Some symptoms of lactic acidosis include vomiting, loss of appetite, breathing difficulties and muscle pain. If you experience any of these problems then you should go to the doctor and get checked out. Normally these symptoms could just be a stomach virus or being sick. However, anytime you have trouble breathing it is better to be safe the sorry.

Metformin was first put out into the market by the Food and Drug Administration in 1994. At that point in time there were only two other available medications out on the market to help diabetes. So it was a good thing that Metformin came along when it did since it has been proven to be one of the most effective drugs when in comes to diabetes. Some other medications that have came to pass since the production of Metformin in 1994 are called alpha-glycosidase inhibitors, this product slows down the absorption of carbohydrates in the small intestine, which will help to slow the rise in glucose levels after meals. Thiazolidinediones have also been produced, these help to enhance insulin sensitivity.

Metformin is generally used in combination with other medications in order to treat Type 2 diabetes. However, it does not treat any of the conditions that come with Type 1 diabetes. There are some warnings however that you should follow before taking this medications because if you have kidney disease it could produce more problems then help. If you have developed diabetes ketoacidosis you should talk to your doctor before taking this medication. Sometimes through having diabetes you will need to have surgery or some CT scans done or something that involves dye being injected into your veins. Your best bet would be to stop taking Metformin before you go in for any of the above.

If you have had lever disease or a history disease with you or even someone in your immediate family it is best to tell your doctor that before being prescribed that medication.

Some other normal side effects you might want to know of before taking the medications are feeling short of breath, swelling and some weight gain, chills, fever, flu symptoms and body aches. Other side effects you might get that will get away during your time of taking this medication is muscle pain, headache, weakness, nausea, vomiting, gas, stomach pain and diarrhea.

Metformin can be a dangerous medicine so my suggestion is to just make sure you keep a careful watch over yourself and your body while taking it and always go to the doctor with issues even if you think you might be overreacting.

Salsalate

Salsalate who is cousin to a well known heart attack medicine Aspirin has been found very effective for reducing glucose levels. Salsalate is a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug that is very similar to Aspirin and even shows some of the same effects that Aspirin does but it does not cause the issues of stomach bleeding that has been associated with Aspirin. Before Salsalate was known for its good influence on reducing glucose levels it was most commonly known for the treatment of arthritis.

Salsalate who is cousin to a well known heart attack medicine Aspirin has been found very effective for reducing glucose levels. Salsalate is a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug that is very similar to Aspirin and even shows some of the same effects that Aspirin does but it does not cause the issues of stomach bleeding that has been associated with Aspirin. Before Salsalate was known for its good influence on reducing glucose levels it was most commonly known for the treatment of arthritis.

In findings located from the Harvard Medical School’s Joslin Diabetes Center, it is clear that salsalate has had an inspiring impact on patients who have been diagnosed with diabetes. Their blood sugar levels lowered tremendously, especially those who were obese and who had Type 2 diabetes. The study in which was done showed that the twenty patients who took this medication for a month straight were already showing lowered glucose levels.

Because Salsalate has always been found as a non-threatening/safe to use drug, many researchers are happy that the results are proving to be positive. So many harmful drugs are put out on the market with high risks of other harmful side effects or worse, even when someone dies because of the harmful drugs. Salsalate has been on the market for over forty years and seems very much to be living up to its standards.

Since Aspirin for so many years helped to lower glucose levels researchers wanted to find something similar to it that would take the side effect of the bleeding stomach away. This is how they found Salsalate as a responding drug to lower glucose blood levels and helping those who had Type 2 diabetes to feel just a little bit better.

When the Harvard Medical School’s Joslin Diabetes Center did another research, this time using patients who were in their 20’s they found some more exciting results. The patients were given four grams of salsalate daily for a month and with this the treatment method was noticed right away in it’s efforts to help cut down glucose levels by 13% and to also help a reduction of 20% in the blood sugar response to the oral glucose tolerance test.

The oral glucose tolerance test measures the body’s ability to control its glucose once a diabetic patient inhabits a certain amount of glucose. This is how they test people for the diabetes illness whether they have Type 1 or Type 2 will not matter, this test will show the doctor what they need to see.

Along with salsalate’s need to help decrease glucose levels it also can help insulin work more profoundly. Those who have taken this drug complain about just one really annoying symptom, ringing in the ears. As annoying as that can sometimes be and on such a constant basis, many patients would rather deal with the ringing then take large quantities of Aspirin and then end up with more problems with their stomach bleeding. I honestly can say I can’t really blame then for that.

With all the studies that have been done to prove salsalate as a marketable drug for diabetes it has been said that if it’s good efforts continues then salsalate will be added to the armamentatuim of anti-diabetic drugs. Salsalate had proved its worth out there on the market; it’s about the same as Aspirin without the severity of stomach bleeding. Some people are still very uncertain about medicinal drugs and prefer herbal drugs. I can understand that and tell you the truth I prefer herbal drugs myself but sometimes medicinal are far more helpful. However, if you are looking for an herb to help you reduce glucose level, cinnamon is a fantastic one.

Atenolol

Atenolol is a beta-blocker which is often used in the treatment of high blood pressure and heart problems. In plain language, a beta-blocker works by assisting the patient’s blood to flow through his veins and throughout his circulatory system.

Although atenolol is an excellent medication for its purpose, it can cause serious complications if it is not used properly, or if it is used when contraindications are present. This is the reason why it is necessary for your physician to have full knowledge of your medical history and conditions, and for you to be cooperative with his recommended use of this medication.

A beta-blocker is not usually the drug-of-choice for a patient who has conditions such as liver, kidney, or thyroid disease, diabetes, consistently low blood pressure; and it should not be used by a patient who is or may become pregnant. Atenolol should also not be used if the patient is breast-feeding, because this drug can cause serious harm to the baby. If you fall into any of these categories, it is unlikely that your physician will prescribe atenolol, but will give you a different type of medication instead which will not pose the possibility of harm or complications.

Atenolol can cause a number of side-effects. The side-effects associated with this beta-blocker include impairments in reacting, alertness, or thinking, and drowsiness. If you are using atenolol, you should avoid using alcohol, as alcohol can significantly increase these types of side-effects.

Whether your physician has prescribed atenolol as a treatment for your heart problem or for high blood pressure, the use of this medication will be even more effective if you also follow your doctor’s recommendations for other important aspects of your overall treatment program. This will usually include making and sticking to healthy adjustments in your diet and your exercise program. A good, healthy routine will help your medication to be the most effective.

If your physician has not already informed you of this, it is essential for you to cease your use of atenolol prior to having any surgery. Keep in mind, however, that it is not safe for you to simply stop using this medication on your own, it is necessary for your physician to monitor your reactions and symptoms when and if he decides that you should stop using it. There can be extremely serious complications if you stop taking atenolol without your physician knowing about it and monitoring the effects.

As with any type of prescription medication, atenolol can be highly effective in treating the condition for which it is competently prescribed; but it also has the potential of causing serious harm or damage if it is not used correctly. Upon knowing your health history, if your physician has recommended use of atenolol, he will then brief you on precisely when and how to take this medication, what types of possible side-effect symptoms you should be on the alert for, and what you should do in the event that any such symptoms do occur.

Lisinopril

Lisinopril is a prescription medication commonly used to treat high blood pressure and a variety of heart problems. As such, it should never be used except on the recommendation of your physician; and, if this medication is prescribed for you, it is essential for you to use it only as directed so that it will work most effectively and be less likely to result in side-effects or other complications.

LisinoprilLisinopril is a prescription medication commonly used to treat high blood pressure and a variety of heart problems. As such, it should never be used except on the recommendation of your physician; and, if this medication is prescribed for you, it is essential for you to use it only as directed so that it will work most effectively and be less likely to result in side-effects or other complications.

Lisinopril is an ACE-inhibitor. The way in which this medication works is that it blocks the enzyme known as as angiotestin; in turn, this causes the blood vessels to dilate, resulting in the lowering of the blood pressure.

Although lisinopril is an excellent medication and can do wonders in treating these specific conditions which have the potential to be life-threatening, it is also a very powerful compound. If it is used strictly according to your physician’s recommendations there is a lesser chance of having problems associated with lisinopril, but it is still a good idea to be aware of exactly how serious this medication actually is.

First, there are a number of factors which would contraindicate the use of lisinopril. Your physician should have full information about your medical history, current status, and knowledge of any other medications you may be using, before he prescribes lisinopril. For example, lisinopril can cause serious damage and even be life-threatening, if it is used by someone who is pregnant. In addition, lisinopril may pose the danger of drug interactions if used with some other types of medications. This also includes some kinds of over-the-counter medications, so it is essential for your doctor to know if you are using anything.

While the side-effects of lisinopril are usually quite minor and not difficult for the average patient to deal with, there is still the possibility of more severe side-effects. It may lower the patient’s blood pressure; and it can decrease one’s blood cells. This is the reason why it is so important for your physician to keep your health consistently monitored if you are using lisinopril.

As with any type of drug, lisinopril also has the potential of causing allergic reactions in some patients. These, too, can range from very minor annoyances to serious problems which can require medical intervention.

Lisinopril is an excellent means of treating specific conditions; but as is the case with any prescription medication, using it correctly is essential for it to be both effective and safe. If your doctor has prescribed this medication for you, be sure to follow his instructions for its use, and alert him immediately if you begin to experience any uncomfortable physical symptoms upon its use. While a symptom may appear to be nothing more than mildly bothersome to you, informing your physician of it is the best way to ensure that it will not result in any serious complications; he will be able to adjust or stop your cycle of lisinopril however he deeems is in the best interest of your longterm health.

Metoprolol

Metoprolol is a beta-blocker which is often used in the treatment of heart problems and high blood pressure. It is one of the most commonly used medications of this type used for these purposes today.

MetoprololMetoprolol is a beta-blocker which is often used in the treatment of heart problems and high blood pressure. It is one of the most commonly used medications of this type used for these purposes today.

In addition to being used to treat these conditions, metoprolol is also often used as a preventative medication when the presence of certain conditions or symptoms indicate its use. For example, metoprolol can be used to lessen the likelihood of experiencing migraine headaches in a patient who has a history of migraines, or as a preventative measure against the possibility of having a heart attack when the patient’s medical history and current situation deem it likely that he could have one. In other words, metoprolol can be prescribed for the treatment of conditions and symptoms, and it can be prescribed for the purpose of warding off potential problems as well.

Another reason why metoprolol is such a widely-popular choice in medication is that most patients who experience side-effects from this drug only have side-effects which are quite mild and tolerable. While side-effects such as dizziness, diarrhea, and mild intereference with blood circulation are certainly not pleasant, they are preferable over the more serious side-effects which are much more common from the use of other types of medications. An additional factor of metoprolol is that for most people who experience these minor side-effects, they are usually very temporary in nature; few patients will have to deal with these annoyances throughout the duration.

As with any medication, however, the possibility of serious side-effects does exist. Your risk of such complications as a slowing of your heartbeat or difficulties in breathing, amongst others, can be significantly lessened as long as your physician knows that your health history and medical status make you a good candidate for this medication, and as long as you use it in the exact manner that he directs for you.

Some patients may experience allergic reactions to metoprolol. While this possibility is to be expected from beginning the use of any new medication, studies have shown that metoprolol does not pose a significant risk for most people. If you do begin to experience an allergic reaction, such as a rash or itching, you should inform your doctor about this immediately so that he can take the necessary precautions. Even though an allergic reaction may feel like little more than an annoyance to you, the fact that it is telling you that your body does not agree with the medication means you should take any allergic reaction seriously!

While there are positives and negatives connected to all medications, the health benefits of metoprolol far outweigh the minor risks. If it is used for its intended purpose, taken exactly as your physician directs you, and you also eliminate smoking so that you do not increase your risk of circulatory difficulties, metoprolol is one of the most effective and one of the safest medications currently available for treatment of these symptoms and conditions.

Diabetic Medications

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, then you are probably on a specific set of medications designed to control your condition and ward off conditions that are closely related to diabetes.  Doctors usually take into consideration factors such as a patient’s type of diabetes, age, other current conditions, and any other medication that they may be taking, when prescribing diabetic medication.  The most common and well known of these is insulin there are several other types of diabetic medications.  Although we will not be able to cover all of these, we will discuss some of the more common diabetic medications.

Diabetic Medications: If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, then you are probably on a specific set of medications designed to control your condition and ward off conditions that are closely related to diabetes.  Doctors usually take into consideration factors such as a patient’s type of diabetes, age, other current conditions, and any other medication that they may be taking, when prescribing diabetic medication.  The most common and well known of these is insulin there are several other types of diabetic medications.  Although we will not be able to cover all of these, we will discuss some of the more common diabetic medications.

Pioglitazone hydrochloride or Actos, as it is more commonly known, is used primarily in patients with type 2 diabetes.  Actos is used to decrease a person’s insulin resistance by improving sensitivity to insulin in the muscles and adipose tissues. Despite its benefits, Actos has been known to cause and/or increase an individual’s chances of having congestive heart failure.  So, if you are on Actos, it is important that you watch out for symptoms of congestive heart failure including excessive and/or rapid weight gain, dyspnea, or edema.

Lantus is most commonly used in individuals with type 1 diabetes.  While regular insulin is a natural substance, Lantus a manmade solution of insulin glargine and is taken as an injection. Unlike regular insulin it lasts longer and begins to work more slowly.  Lantus lowers your blood sugar by replacing the insulin that your body does not produce, instead of helping your body use sugar productively like natural insulin.  Hypoglycemia is one of the most common conditions that have been directly linked to Lantus.

Rosiglitazone maleate also known as Avandia is typically used in patients with type 2 diabetes.  Avandia is used to help lower your blood sugar, by facilitating your body’s natural response to insulin.  If you are showing signs of congestive heart failure it is important that you know that Avandia is not recommended for people like you.  The clinical studies for Avandia are contradicting and some have even compared Avandia to a placebo.

Like the other medications mentioned, Metformin or Glucophage is used to lower blood sugar by restoring your body’s response to the insulin that you naturally produce.  However, unlike the medicines mentioned above, Glucophage also decreases the amount of sugar that your liver makes and that your intestines absorb.  It is important to note that the main condition to be directly linked to Glocophage is Lactic Acidosis.  Yet, this is pretty rare.  Side effects most commonly caused by Glucophage are diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and indigestion.

Sitagliptin also known as Januvia is commonly used with other diabetic medications, such as Glucophage, when it has not proven to be as effective as the doctor had hoped.  Januvia is mainly used in patients with type 1 diabetes.  People who are taking or may start taking Januvia should be cautious if they have or are showing signs of renal failure and/or hypoglycemia.

Prandin the common name for Repaglinide typically used in individuals with type 2 diabetes.  Prandin assists the body by getting it to produce more insulin naturally.  Hypoglycemia is one of the main conditions that have been directly linked with Prandin.  However, it is important that women who are pregnant, nursing, or plan to get pregnant speak with there doctors first and take Prandin with caution.

There are many other diabetic medications.  Yet, not only do these medications come with their own warnings, they may also have an effect on other medications that you may be taking.  However, diabetes is a serious condition; so do not start or stop any type of diabetic medication without speaking with your doctor first.

Cincotta’s Season: Getting a Drug to Market

Many of us are willing to spend some time working on a project that will have an expected outcome. We can spend a weekend working on the lawn because we know it will have a conclusion and we can enjoy the benefits while engaging in something new.

Many of us are willing to spend some time working on a project that will have an expected outcome. We can spend a weekend working on the lawn because we know it will have a conclusion and we can enjoy the benefits while engaging in something new.

Athletes train to compete in a sport knowing that there is a ‘season’. There is a fixed start and stop date.

Teachers plan for a school year knowing they have certain objectives to meet in order to pass along specific skills to their students. This too will come to an end.

What if a season was 28 years long? Would athletes willingly sign up? Would they be able to endure? Would teachers enjoy having the same group of students for 28 years? Would the students enjoy the same class for so long?

Anthony Cincotta had to learn if he was made of the right stuff in living through his 28-year season.

According to Boston.com Cincotta was a graduate student 28-years ago, “Working on Syrian hamsters. Intrigued by how the animals slip from their lean summer condition into a fat, nearly prediabetic state before their winter hibernation, he had found a way to tinker with their brain chemistry and effectively reset their metabolism. Cincotta was certain that he had discovered something big, and he wondered: Could he do the same thing in people?”

Cincotta’s brother Manny was his inspiration for a very personal project. Manny died from Leukemia. Cincotta’s project involved creating a drug to help treat diabetes. After 20 years of work the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declined to approve the drug for use in America.

Twenty years. More time than Cincotta had been in school. This was roughly half of his life dedicated to a season of developing a drug that was denied by the FDA.

After a series of mergers, acquisitions and buy-backs Cincotta once again owns the rights to a drug known as Cycloset. This time he has FDA approval.

The Boston.com report indicates, “Dr. Martin Abrahamson, medical director at the Joslin Diabetes Center, said the drug is not as effective at lowering glucose as other diabetes drugs on the market. He also said that a barrier to the widespread use of the drug might be one of its side effects, nausea, and noted that in a clinical trial of the drug, nearly half of the Cycloset-treated patients stopped taking the medication early.”

While this may sound negative Cincotta is used to delays, setbacks and negative feedback. However, he also has some positive backing as doctor’s that participated in the clinical trial express enthusiasm for the drug because unlike other diabetes related drugs it does not increase the risk of heart disease.

Because of Cincotta’s work with the brain chemistry of hamsters some doctors are intrigued by the neurologic component to Cycloset and its potential in treating diabetes.

Cincotta’s season was a long one. Now he waits to see if his work will be embraced in the treatment of diabetes.

Interestingly the wait endured by Cincotta and the continued pursuit of excellence that marked his journey really isn’t remarkably different than the struggle many diabetics face everyday. Their season isn’t short-term and the results are important. Like Cincotta they stick to their plan and continue working toward a desired result (improved blood glucose and a better quality of life).

Here’s to patient endurance for all.