New research indicates that lower doses of pioglitazone, an insulin-sensitizing drug, can help treat patients with insulin resistance effectively, with fewer side effects.
The study was co-authored by Paresh Dandona, MD, Ph.D., SUNY Distinguished Professor of Medicine at the University at Buffalo.
Study Overview
The study titled “Efficacy of Lower Doses of Pioglitazone After Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack in Patients With Insulin Resistance,” was published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism.
It showed that low doses of pioglitazone used to treat diabetes in patients with insulin resistance may be preferable, especially in those who have a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA).
Why Lower Doses?
Pioglitazone is a potent insulin-sensitizing drug with anti-atherosclerotic properties.
However, adverse effects such as weight gain and edema have limited its use. Lower doses of this drug can provide similar cardiovascular protection to the higher doses, but with fewer side effects.
Insulin Resistance and Vascular Diseases
Insulin resistance, which affects the majority of patients with Type 2 diabetes, is also an independent risk factor for vascular diseases such as stroke and myocardial infarction.
The link between diabetes and an increased risk for these diseases is partly explained by insulin resistance.
The IRIS Study
The Insulin Resistance Intervention in Stroke (IRIS) trial demonstrated that pioglitazone reduced cardiovascular complications and the progression from prediabetes to diabetes.
However, the high dose of 45 milligrams daily used in the study often led to side effects of weight gain and edema.
The reanalysis of the IRIS study showed that the two lower doses (15 and 30 milligrams daily) offered similar cardiovascular protection but with significantly fewer side effects.
Benefits of Lower Doses of Pioglitazone
Using lower doses of pioglitazone could improve glycemic control and reduce cardiovascular complications in diabetes and prediabetes patients.
Furthermore, pioglitazone is a generic drug and is less expensive compared to insulin.
The health benefits of lower doses of pioglitazone include improved diabetic control and a reduction in the incidence of myocardial infarction and stroke.
Conclusion
The study’s findings suggest that a lower dosage of pioglitazone can be equally effective and lead to fewer side effects in patients with insulin resistance.
This could pave the way for significant improvements in the treatment of diabetes and prediabetes, leading to better control of blood sugar levels and a reduction in heart complications.
However, further research is required to solidify these findings.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies that MIND diet may reduce risk of vision loss disease, and these widely used diabetes drugs increase heart disease risk.
For more information about diabetes, please see recent studies that Vitamin E could help reduce blood sugar and insulin resistance in diabetes, and results showing scientists find new way to reduce neuropathy pain in diabetes.
The study was published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
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