avandia -

August 24, 2011 By Dr. G. Pepper

Diabetes Medications, One Old and One New, Run into Trouble

A potential new treatment for type 2 diabetes, dapagliflozin, recently failed to gain approval from the FDA. What makes this rejection noteworthy is that the new medication works by a completely new mechanism causing the kidney to excrete sugar from the blood into the urine. Reasons for the rejection were the increased risk of bladde [...]

July 6, 2011 By Dr. G. Pepper

Avandia Law Suit Brings Out the Opportunists

The lawsuits against Avandia are being prepared and opportunists are lining up for a payday. Unfortunately, everyone else will wind up a loser, and here’s why. Avandia, one of only two available medicines with unique properties to treat diabetes, was approved in 1999. From the very first day Avandia was approved a heated debate arose [...]

March 27, 2011 By Dr. G. Pepper

Can Actos Really Prevent Type 2 Diabetes?

Diagnosing diabetes is simple. If the blood sugar is found to be elevated you are diabetic. Increasing or decreasing the cut off level between normal and diabetic will dramatically change the number of people diagnosed with diabetes. In 1997 the American Diabetes Association lowered the criterion of diabetes (type 2) to a fasting blood sugar [...]

February 23, 2010 By Dr. G. Pepper

Old, Old News About Diabetes Medicine Danger Makes Headlines Again

In 2007 I published an article entitled, “Old News About Avandia and Actos Makes Front Page New York Times”. This article criticized the media for publishing an old story about the potential danger of Avandia, then a popular diabetes medication. Even in 2007 the potential hazard of Avandia was a story which had been beaten [...]

January 18, 2010 By Dr. G. Pepper

New Diabetes Treatment Guidelines Flawed

New Diabetes Treatment Guidelines Lack Credibility: Recently the American Academy of Clinical Endocrinologists issued new treatment guidelines for treating Type 2 Diabetes. Complex medical guidelines are often referred to as a treatment algorithm. One of the stated goals of the AACE algorithm is to focus primarily on the theoretical ability of the diabetic medications to [...]

June 25, 2009 By Dr. G. Pepper

Al, Type 2 Diabetic, Shares His Thoughts on Treatment

Al is a type 2 diabetic. He has learned a lot about how diet and exercise can influence his blood sugar but still has frustrations with treatment options. He shares his thoughts with metabolism.com: I am a male 47 years of age. 2 years ago my A1C was at 9.9 i was eating horribly and [...]

June 16, 2009 By Dr. G. Pepper

Unreasonable Standards by the FDA for New Diabetes Drug Approval?

This post is the third in a series under the title: 2009. Another Troubled Year for Endocrinologists. This year the FDA has instituted new standards for diabetes drugs coming up for approval. These new standards require that each new drug prior to approval must demonstrate the lack of any negative impact on cardiovascular (heart and [...]

October 13, 2008 By Dr. G. Pepper

Can Type 2 Diabetes Be Prevented?

How do I prevent type 2 diabetes? If you have a close relative with type 2 diabetes (the kind that usually develops in adulthood), you are at risk for developing diabetes yourself. 1. The most important way to avoid developing diabetes is to pay close attention to nutrition and exercise and to maintain a healthy weight. The [...]

November 28, 2007 By Gary Pepper M.D.

Avandia Becomes The Britney Spears of Medicine

Once the superstar of the medical world and the number one darling of doctors for the treatment of diabetes, Avandia is now a big disgrace. The image of Britney Spears comes to mind when considering this story. After all, the rise and fall of Avandia does make for great tabloid reading. Avandia reached the market [...]

November 14, 2007 By Gary Pepper M.D.

A Pyrrhic Victory for Avandia: FDA Releases New Statement

On November 14 the FDA released a new warning about potential heart complications of Avandia. After reading the statement which can be found at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01743.html I was most impressed by the reserved tone the FDA used in describing the risk. Based on the types of articles already published by some leaders in the field of [...]