Diabetes Drugs Double Risk of Heart Failure

September 3, 2008 by MedHeadlines  
Filed under Diabetes, Drugs

Two drugs frequently prescribed to diabetics to aggressively lower blood sugar - pioglitazone and rosiglitazone - have been found to increase significantly the risk of developing heart failure. The two medications, which belong to a group of drugs known as thiazolidinediones, have been found to actually double the risk of developing congestive heart failure (CHF). The increased risk is so significant, in fact, that the research team publicly questions the validity of prescribing thiazolidinediones at all. Read more

Some Diabetes Drugs May Negatively Affect The Bones

April 30, 2008 by MedHeadlines  
Filed under Diabetes, Drugs, Osteoporosis, Prevention

A class of popular diabetes drugs has been found to be associated with an increased risk of fractures of the hip and wrist in insulin-resistant patients.  The class of drug, insulin-sensitizing thiazolidinediones, makes up about 21% of the oral medications taken for diabetes in the United States and 5% in Europe. Read more