New Approach for Treating Type 2 Diabetes
Reported November 16, 2005

BURLINGTON, Vt. (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) -- According to the American Diabetes Association, more than 18 million Americans are living with diabetes. Over 90 percent of them have type 2 diabetes. The disease is difficult to control and can lead to a host of complications. Now a new class of drugs could change the course of the disease.

Having type 2 diabetes is no walk in the park for John Sullivan. "It's my health. I want to live. It can be a death sentence without discipline." To stay one step ahead of his disease, Sullivan enrolled in a clinical trial. He hopes that the drug will help him maintain a low blood sugar level.

The medication John is receiving belongs to a new class of drugs called DPP4 inhibitors. Diabetologist Richard Pratley, M.D., says they stop the breakdown of the hormone GLP-1.

"By inhibiting the breakdown of GLP-1, we actually have more of the active hormone around, and this helps to control blood glucose levels," Dr. Pratley, of University of Vermont in Burlington, tells Ivanhoe.

A study on one of the drugs showed hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels dropped more than 1 percent. A1c levels are a measure of blood sugar control, and research shows every 1 percent drop means a 35-percent lower risk of diabetes-related complications.

"It's a very significant improvement in glucose," Dr. Pratley says. He adds what's exciting about these new drugs is that they may actually change the course of the disease by making insulin-producing cells healthier.

John's daughter Mariah helps him stay focused on his health. The new drug also helps. "I want to remain healthy," he says. I'm 52 years old, and I have, my youngest is five-and-a-half years old." And that's enough motivation to keep his blood sugar in check.

Dr. Pratley says another benefit of these drugs is that they don't cause weight gain like many of the drugs currently on the market do. There are several different drugs in this class under study. He expects the drug will be sent to the FDA for approval some time next year.