Drugs and therapy Diabetes drug gives new tool
| Diabetes drug gives new tool |
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With diabetes numbers "increasing dramatically" in Manitoba, a new medication provides an important means to control it, says a local specialist.
The drug Sitagliptin, whose trade name is Januvia, recently gained approval from Health Canada and should be on pharmacy shelves this week, said Dr. Vincent Woo, a diabetes specialist with the Winnipeg Clinic and the University of Manitoba. The new drug -- aimed at treating Type 2 diabetes -- has a range of benefits, said Woo. It can be taken orally and doesn't cause weight gain or drop blood sugar to very low levels, a side-effect of some other similar medications, he said. "We need all the tools we can get," said Woo. The drug increases the body's ability to meet target blood glucose levels. "Things are harder to control as we get older," said Woo. "Glucose levels are harder to maintain as we age." Diet and exercise, too Alongside medication, proper diet and exercise are needed to help control the disease, he said. "We welcome safe and effective treatments that do come out on the market, like Januvia, that help people living with diabetes achieve optimal health," said Jenny Nodelman, a spokeswoman with the Canadian Diabetes Association. People living with Type 2 diabetes should consult with their health-care team to see if the drug is suited to help them, said Nodelman. In Manitoba, about 67,000 people have either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, she said. About 16 new cases of diabetes are diagnosed each day in Manitoba, with the national average standing at 11, said Nodelman. About two million people across Canada have the disease and the number is expected to reach three million by the year 2010, said Woo. About 90% of those have Type 2 diabetes, a progressive disease that makes it more difficult over time to keep blood glucose levels in a target range. High blood glucose levels from the disease can lead to complications such as heart disease, blindness and kidney failure. "It's hoped that if you control the blood sugars for longer periods you can reduce the risks of those complications," said Woo. (The article from: winnipegsun.com) Comments (0)
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