Do you think all the research is focused on Type I Diabetes? Ten years ago, in addition to insulin there were two classes of drugs for type 2 diabetes, metformin and a sulfonylurea. We now have 13 classes of medications either in use or being developed. These include the TZDs (Actos), Incretin mymetics (byetta, victoza and other long acting ones to come), DDP4 inhibitors (januvia, onglyza, tradjenta) as well as new types of insulin. A new class being developed SGLT-2 inhibitors increases glucose excretion in the kidneys. Because of an increase in bladder cancer, the first and only drug of this class has not been approved but other medications in this class are being developed. These drugs can help promote weight loss, avoid hypoglycemia and actually lower blood pressure. A new very long acting insulin is also in the final stages of development which has a lower risk of nocturnal hypoglycemia. Also, drugs are being developed that activate the insulin receptor rather than stimulating insulin. Testing is also being done to develop drugs that lower insulin sensitivity through different mechanisms than those currently available. While waiting for these drugs, or a cure for Diabetes type I and type II, live in hope but use all the tools currently available to stay in the best control possible. Medscape has provided this information from the(EASD) European Association for the Study of Diabetes 48th annal meeting.
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