Diabetes Medications : Older Meds are Good

Sometimes the latest and normally the most expensive drugs are not the best.

From Reuters

"A comparison of 10 diabetes drugs showed they all worked well to reduce levels of glucose, or sugar, in the blood. But each one has drawbacks, the federally funded researchers found.

The review, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, will add to a growing debate about the safety of some of the newer diabetes drugs.

Used alone, metformin, the glitazones and newer sulfonylureas all reduced blood sugar about as well over time, Dr. Shari Bolen of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and colleagues found.

"This is truly significant information for the millions of people with diabetes struggling to control their disease, but also struggling with the high cost of their medications."

So even if you self diagnose yourself and self medicate, don't think the most expensive drugs are the best.