Health
Oral drugs as effective as insulin for children, teens with type 2 diabetes
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Sept. 5, 2005
Hypoglycemic drugs could be as effective as insulin shots to bring type 2 diabetes in children and teenagers under control, says a study in the June Pharmacotherapy.
Researchers at Ohio State University reviewed the medical records of 42 children and adolescents with the disease. About one-third were initially treated with insulin shots, and the rest were treated with metformin, sulfonylureas or combination therapy. All patients experienced reductions in their hemoglobin A1c levels, and the authors concluded that drug therapy, which tends to be easier for patients than insulin shots, might be an acceptable treatment strategy for this age group.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/09/05/hlbf0905.htm.
