Recently, the New England Journal of Medicine released findings that the risk of developing a heart attack from taking the pharmaceutical drug, Avandia, was as high as 43%. In addition, it was reported that patients taking Avandia were 64% more likely to die of cardiovascular causes while taking the drug.
The most alarming issue is that Glaxo knew that there were side effects such as these as early as 2000 but did not notify the public of the risks. Although the data has been conflicting between different studies, caution should be taken. It is advisable to make an appointment with your physician to discuss this issue.
Unfortunately, Avandia is not the first medication to carry serious health risks. In September of 2004, Vioxx, Bextra, and Celebrex were recalled due to its potential role in causing heart attacks and strokes. Zyprexa, used for psychological problems, carries warnings of unintended risk of diabetes. Therefore, it is naïve to think that Avandia will be the last.
How does Avandia work?
Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which either insulin is not secreted in sufficient amounts to usher glucose into the cells or the cells have become resistant to insulin. In either case, high blood glucose is the result. Avandia is related to a class of drugs called thiazolidinediones. This particular drug influences the cell receptors to become more sensitive to the insulin, thus decreasing insulin resistance. In addition, Avandia decreases the amount of stored glucose that is released from the liver into the bloodstream.
What are the Alternatives?
Diabetes is a very serious condition and should be closely monitored by a medical practitioner. Be sure to always monitor your blood glucose at least once per day alternating times each day. However, there are things that you can do now to manage and control your diabetes.
Lifestyle changes have been shown in many studies to have positive outcomes that even surpass medication therapies. Exercise and a healthy eating plan should be immediately incorporated into your routine.
Alternative and complementary medicine are other avenues to control blood sugar that have been used with success. One such therapy is alpha lipoic acid (ALA), an antioxidant used in Europe for peripheral neuropathy. Some studies show that ALA increases the uptake of glucose into the cells which means that this alternative therapy increases the sensitivity of the cells to glucose. This is beneficial to decrease blood glucose levels.
Minerals such as vanadium, magnesium, zinc, and chromium support the body’s ability to process glucose efficiently. Banaba leaf extract along with magnesium and chromium promote efficient transport of glucose into the cells allowing it to be used for energy instead of damaging vital organs such as the eyes, kidneys, and heart.
Just as caution should be taken when consuming pharmaceutical medications, alternative therapies are not all the same. It is vital to choose a company that has a reputable track record and does not promote a product that was just on last night’s news. It needs to be scientifically formulated with the purest of ingredients to ensure safety and efficacy.
