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According to a new research, diabetes treatment prevents heart diseases
According to a new research, diabetes treatment prevents heart diseases. It was found that a drug for treating diabetes may reduce the risk of heart attacks or strokes. Pioglitazone, a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes may actually decrease the risk of heart diseases in people with insulin resistance.
The drug has effect in patients without diabetes. The new study was the first to reveal the treatment used to target cell metabolism can prevent strokes or heart attacks. Insulin is known to regulate one’s metabolism , keeping the blood sugar at a normal level. Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body doesn’t use the insulin effectively.
Walter N. Kernan, MD, professor of medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, declared
‘this study represents a novel approach to prevent recurrent vascular events by reversing a specific metabolic abnormality thought to increase the risk for future heart attack or stroke’.
Moreover, the scientist claimed the trial will go further to analyze vascular benefits of other interventions. Exercise, a healthy diet and treatment have almost the same effect on individuals’ bodies as pioglitazone. For this study, Kernan and his team involved 3, 000 participants from seven countries. The participants were selected according their history of ischemic strokes and transient ischemic attacks within months before the study took place.
Researchers gave them pioglitazone or placebo as well as the standard care they needed. This study lasted approximately five years. In this period, 9 percent of the individuals who took pioglitazone had a stroke or a heart attack. Almost, 11, 8 percent of those who were given placebo had also experienced heart problems.
The results estimated that 28 strokes or heart attacks occurrences might be averted for every 1000 individuals who take pioglitazone for five years. However, the potential benefits should be balanced against potential risks, heart failure and bone fractures included.
This new study did not reveal high risks of heart failure. Nonetheless, previous research pointed out the side effect of thiazolidinediones (TZDs). Even though Experts claim their results do look promising, they need further investigation into the field.
Kernan explained they want to find safer methods to administer the drug so as to increase the benefits and reduce the risks to minimum. This is the first study to reveal that a diabetes treatment prevents heart diseases, which comes as a great discovery in the medical field.
Photo Credits: Wikimedia
