WPADE.org

Avandia, a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes, may also prevent diabetes in people at high risk. Predictions were that 50% of 5000 pre-diabetics would develop type 2 diabetes within three years without treatment. Patients were assigned, in the above described study, to either a placebo group or to a group prescribed with an 8mg dose of Avandia daily and were followed for three years. About 12% of those taking Avandia developed diabetes or died, compared to 26% who were given a placebo. About 50% of those taking the drug has normal blood glucose levels compared to 30% in the placebo group. Fourteen of those taking the drug developed heart failure compared to only 2 in the placebo group. Lifestyle changes can decrease the risk of developing diabetes by as much as 58%.
Annette Karash, RN, BSN, MN