Diabetes Pills, Under Fire

Filed in archive Challenges , Lifestyle , Notable , Research , Treatment on April 29, 2007

Researchers reported in last week's issue of the British Medical Journal that taking prescription drugs for the treatment of diabetes cannot be justified.

On the context of argument that lifestyle changes (i.e. weight loss, physical activity, restricted diet) are equally effective, not to mention safer and much cheaper.

Several trials have assessed the ability of drugs to prevent diabetes, but none have shown that prevention with drugs improves outcomes important to patients. Evidence is also emerging of serious side effects of glitazones.

While recent studies demonstrated that the drug rosiglitazone reduced the risk of diabetes in people at risk. - resulting to aggressive promotion of rosiglitazone as a preventive therapy. However, experts (Professor Victor Montori of mayo clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA and colleagues) warn that such a strategy will only bring harm and additional costs to the patient while the benefits remain questionable.

Hmm...this got me thinking. Will diabetic patients be willing to forgo medication and just stick to lifestyle changes in managing their condition? Not that they lack enough will power to do that, but I guess there is some psychological factor that drives patients to go on when they're popping a pill on top of changing their lifestyle.

On the other hand, on the scientific standpoint I am not too convinced that lifestyle changes is enough to manage diabetes. But that's just me.

What do you think?

Read the full report.

[Photo Credit: MedlinePlus]