In recent years, the number of people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes has been increasing, making it a major health issue worldwide.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body struggles to use insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone that helps control the amount of sugar in your blood. When the body can’t use it well, blood sugar levels rise, leading to serious health problems.
The most common treatment for type 2 diabetes is a drug called metformin. This medication helps lower blood sugar, but it doesn’t always work well enough by itself.
When this happens, doctors often add another drug to help. Two of the most common options for a second medication are sulfonylureas and basal insulin.
Recently, scientists at Northwestern University conducted a study to understand the safety of these additional drugs.
Their research showed that sulfonylureas and basal insulin could increase the risk of heart-related problems. This includes heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, and even amputations due to poor blood flow.
This was the first study to directly compare the effects of six different second-line drugs for people with type 2 diabetes.
The researchers found that patients using sulfonylureas or basal insulin had a higher chance of experiencing heart problems compared to those using newer medications, such as DPP-4 inhibitors. Specifically, the risk was 36% higher for sulfonylureas and doubled for basal insulin.
The scientists suggested that doctors should think about prescribing these newer types of medications more often.
These drugs include GLP-1 agonists, SGLT-2 inhibitors, and DPP-4 inhibitors. They might be a safer option after metformin, especially when it comes to protecting the heart.
While the findings are worrying, it’s important to know that this study was observational. The researchers didn’t run a controlled trial but instead looked at the medical data of over 132,000 people with type 2 diabetes who had started a second medication.
The results back up earlier studies that compared some drugs to a placebo, adding to the growing evidence that some older diabetes drugs might not be the best choice for everyone.
The study didn’t focus on whether these older drugs still work well for controlling blood sugar. Nor did it compare the effectiveness of these medications to newer ones in terms of keeping blood sugar levels steady.
However, the higher risk of heart problems with sulfonylureas and basal insulin is something doctors and patients should consider.
These findings are especially important given how many people take these drugs. In the United States alone, more than 30 million people have diabetes.
The study estimated that if 37 people took basal insulin for two years, at least one might suffer from a major heart issue. For sulfonylureas, it would take 103 people over two years to result in one such event.
This research sends a clear message to those with type 2 diabetes: be aware of the potential risks linked to your medications. It also encourages doctors to shift toward newer treatment options, which may offer better protection for heart health.
While these newer drugs may be more expensive, they could save money in the long run by preventing hospital stays and major heart problems.
Preventing heart complications in people with diabetes is not just about improving their quality of life—it could also save lives.
This study, led by Dr. Matthew O’Brien and published in JAMA Network Open, underlines the need to rethink medication choices for managing type 2 diabetes. It suggests a move toward using newer drugs that may lower the risk of serious heart problems.
Taking care of your heart is important if you have diabetes. Staying informed about the latest research on diabetes treatments and heart health could help you make better decisions.
For instance, studies show that even flu and COVID vaccines might affect heart health in people with diabetes, so it’s worth staying updated on all the factors that could influence your heart.
If you care about health, please read studies about the benefits of low-dose lithium supplements, and what we know about egg intake and heart disease.
For more health information, please see recent studies about potatoes and high blood pressure, and results showing 6 best breads for people with heart disease.
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