Salsalate Tapped As Next Big Treatment For Type 2 Diabetes

Filed in archive Treatment on January 30, 2007

Recent studies have shown anti-inflammatories having a positive effect on Type 2 diabetes symptoms. Now, researchers are narrowing down the drug choices, focusing on Salsalate as the anti-inflammatory of choice.

But Dr. Shoelson says the drug Salsalate could change that. It's an anti-inflammatory drug for arthritis that's been around since the 1800's.

"It's strange that we are using a drug that has been around for a long time to treat a disease that has been around for a long time," says Dr. Shoelson.

New research shows a protein that triggers inflammation is turned on in overweight people. The inflammation leads to insulin resistance and type two diabetes. Salsalate shuts off that protein.