Study: Diabetes Drugs Are Not the Same

In a new study published in the Annals of InternalMedicine and funded by the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Agency for Health Care and Quality Research (AHRQ), it was determined that certain oral diabetes drugs do not lead to an increase in weight or bad cholesterol.

The study was conducted by Shari Bolen, Clinical Fellow at the Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland and Frederick L. Brancati, Professor of Medicine, also at Johns Hopkins.

The aim of the study was to gather evidence to objectively evaluate the current oral agents available for the treatment of diabetes.

According to the American Diabetes Association, type 2 diabetes, is the most common form of the disease and accounts for 90 to 95% of all new diagnosed cases of diabetes. It usually occurs in adults over 40 that tend to be overweight. Diabetics have difficulty in converting glucose (sugar) into energy because their cells do not make insulin (type 1) or are resistant to it (type 2).

As per the report, the research team wanted to review the known literature and assess the benefits and harms of oral agents in the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes.

To conduct a comprehensive review, the team evaluated the majority of drug classes that are currently available and that include, second-generation sulfonylureas, biguanides, thiazolidinediones (TZDs), meglitinides, and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors.

The research team was able identify 216 controlled trials and cohort studies and 2 systematic reviews that specifically evaluated the benefits and adverse effects of oral diabetes drugs.

In the report, the research team stated that they were unable to make conclusions regarding the use of specific drugs and major clinical end points such as mortality. However, they were able to make distinctive assessments with respect to other clinical effects.