It’s no secret that maintaining blood glucose (sugar) levels is central to diabetes management. In fact, reaching the recommended blood glucose goals could limit serious diabetes complications such as blindness, nerve damage and amputation. Another condition that many people with type 2 diabetes face is diabetic dyslipidemia, a condition which can damage blood vessels.
Results from a New Study
Results of a new conversion study, COMPLEMENT, showed that the type 2 diabetes drug ACTOS (pioglitazone HCl) kept blood glucose levels under control and significantly improved lipid (blood fats) levels above and beyond those achieved with a statin alone. Specifically, triglycerides were reduced by more than 20 percent and total cholesterol fell by 10.5 percent.
“These data suggest ACTOS, in additional to controlling blood glucose, may provide additional lipid benefits that, together with a statin, might be helpful in addressing diabetic dyslipidemia,” says Mehmood Khan, M.D., F.A.C.E., senior vice president for medical and scientific affairs at Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America.
Diabetic dyslipidemia is a common lipid disorder. This condition is characterized by high levels of triglycerides (fats from food), low levels of HDL (“good” cholesterol), and small, dense forms of LDL (“bad” cholesterol). People with diabetic dyslipidemia are commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering statin medications, which target LDL, or “bad” cholesterol. However, the American Diabetes Association recognizes that a single treatment cannot address all the components of the condition.
“According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 70 to 97 percent of people with type 2 diabetes have diabetic dyslipidemia,” says Dr. Khan. “Currently, there is no single treatment for diabetic dyslipidemia, so a combination of drugs is typically prescribed to resolve individual lipid imbalances, as well as addressing blood glucose control.”
Courtesy of ARA Content
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Important Product Information:
ACTOS (pioglitazone HCl) works by directly targeting insulin resistance, a condition in which the body does not effectively use the insulin it produces to control blood glucose levels. ACTOS is taken once daily as an adjunct to diet and exercise, and is approved for use in type 2 diabetes as monotherapy and in combination therapy with insulin, sulfonylureas or metformin to lower blood glucose.
ACTOS is not for everyone. ACTOS can cause fluid retention that may lead to or worsen heart failure, so tell your doctor if you have a history of these conditions. Talk to your doctor immediately if you experience rapid weight gain, fluid retention, or shortness of breath while taking ACTOS. If you have moderate to severe heart failure, ACTOS is not recommended. Your doctor should perform a blood test to check for liver problems before you start ACTOS and periodically thereafter.
Do not take ACTOS if you have active liver disease. Talk to your doctor immediately if you experience nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, or yellowing of the skin. If you are of childbearing age, talk to your doctor before taking ACTOS as it could increase your chance of becoming pregnant. Some people taking ACTOS may experience flu-like symptoms, mild to moderate swelling of legs and ankles, and anemia. When taking ACTOS with insulin or sulfonylureas, you may be at risk for low blood glucose. While ACTOS may provide some lipid benefits, it is not intended to replace lipid-lowering therapy.
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