Obesity Drug Eases Heart Disease In Diabetics

Filed in archive Research on October 24, 2006

The cross-treatment of drugs for obesity and diabetes is nothing new, and researchers are excited about another find. Acomplia, designed as a drug to help reduce obesity in patients, now seems to help stave off heart problems in Type 2 diabetics.

Those who took the higher dose of the drug showed better blood glucose control, higher HDL or "good" cholesterol and improved triglyceride or blood fat levels, and reduced waist circumference -- a sign of less abdominal fat.

"The improved blood sugar control plus weight loss achieved with rimonabant is very encouraging," Scheen said in a release. "Today, most medications for Type 2 diabetes are associated with weight gain and it is difficult for people with diabetes to lose weight and keep it off."