This site is intended for health professionals only

Drug effective in fighting diabetes

teaser

A drug that reduces the amount of glucose absorbed into the bloodstream lowers the chances of high-risk patients developing type 2 diabetes, a Japanese study has shown.

Research from Juntendo University School of Medicine, in Tokyo, shows that Voglibose, in concert with a healthy diet and regular exercise, significantly improved glucose tolerance.

The study, published online in the Lancet, split 1,780 patients with impaired glucose tolerance but not full-blown diabetes into two groups: one taking 0.2 mg of Voglibose three times a day; the other issued a placebo.

The researchers found that after a year, those treated with voglibose had a 40% lower risk of progression to type 2 diabetes than those receiving placebo and patients given voglibose were 54% more likely to achieve normoglycaemia than those given placebo.

Article continues below this sponsored advert
Cogora InRead Image
Explore the latest advances in respiratory care at events delivered by renowned experts from CofE
Advertisement

However, 48% of patients in the voglibose group had adverse events possibly or probably related to treatment versus 29% of the placebo group.

The authors conclude: “Voglibose significantly improved glucose tolerance, in terms of delayed disease progression and in the number of patients who achieved normoglycaemia.

“Thus, long-term prophylaxis with this a-glucosidase inhibitor in high-risk individuals with impaired glucose tolerance could provide a pharmacological option, along with lifestyle modification, to help reduce the burden of type 2 diabetes.”

Copyright Press Association 2009

Juntendo University






Be in the know
Subscribe to Hospital Pharmacy Europe newsletter and magazine

×