Antidiabetic drugs for type 2 diabetes receive marketing authorization if they show efficacy in reducing levels of HbA1c. However, efficacy on this biological criterion does not necessarily reflect clinical benefit to patients. Several randomized clinical trials have shown that antidiabetic drugs reduce HbA1c without a corresponding reduction in clinical events. This suggests a need to focus on the clinical effectiveness (morbimortality criteria) of our available antidiabetic drugs. In this non-extensive review of the literature, it was found that none of the current antidiabetic drugs have clearly proven their superiority over placebo in the gold standard double-blind randomized clinical trials. Thus, in 2013, the level of evidence for the clinical efficacy of antidiabetic drugs is disappointing and does not support the millions of prescriptions being written for them.
The full article's behind a paywall but the abstract only goes to reinforce our view that medications should be a last resort and kept to a minimum wherever possible.
Graham
Too right mate for the millions of type two diabetics like us, it's low carb high fat or dangerous meds.
ReplyDeleteMy money is on the right grub and getting off our arses.
Eddie
If it wasn't so tragic it would be funny. They worry so much about the long term effects of a LCHF diet but don't even bother to check that the meds they over-prescribe actually help patients at all
ReplyDeletewhile knowing the harm they can cause.
But hey! As long as the HBA1C is Ok what else matters? Is anyone looking at it to see if its the best measure?
Kath