A pill designed to treat obesity could also help to control blood sugar levels amongst patients who are suffering from type 2 diabetes, according to researchers. Type 2 diabetes drugs are sometimes effective in aiding weight loss, yet this is one of the first to operate the other way.
Apparently, the Sanofi-Aventis drug Acomplia, also known in the trade as Rimonabant, was also found to decrease the risk of heart disease amongst those patients who did not respond to normal diabetes treatment.
The study, carried out at the University of Liege in Belgium, showed the positive affects of Acomplia. According to one expert involved in the study, Professor Andre Schee, “These findings support the use of 20 milligrams per day of rimonabant, in addition to diet and exercise, as a new approach to reduce body weight and improve blood glucose control as well as other cardiovascular risk factors in overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes.”
The researchers surveyed a study group of over 1,000 overweight and obese diabetic patients. Scheen concluded: “Type 2 diabetes is a difficult disease to treat because we have had no optimal drugs until now. Available drugs can improve blood glucose control but unfortunately they promote weight gain, instead of weight loss.”

Get our free newsletters

Stay up to date with the latest news, research and breakthroughs.

You May Also Like

Twice daily dairy intakes could reduce type 2 diabetes risk

Eating cheese, yoghurt or eggs twice a day could help lower the…

Coronavirus: UK instructed to stay at home this weekend

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said that staying at home this weekend…

Public Health England considers low carb approach for type 2 diabetes

The low carb approach is being considered by the government to be…