Reports out of the UK say that taking medication for Type-2 diabetes may not be as beneficial as initially thought. According to a study published by the JAMA Internal Medicine, the most vulnerable population are the elderly.
As a result, University College of London (UCL) is urging a team of doctors to discuss the risks of diabetes medications with their patients. This view was endorsed by Diabetes UK (the Charity) which has asked doctors to also be careful when prescribing medication. The report was done in conjunction with the University of Michigan and stated that the average 45 year-old who decreased his/her blood sugar by at least one point could gain as much as ten months healthy life as compared to a 75 year-old who would only gain as little as three weeks of healthy life with the same one point decrease in blood sugar readings.
While the medication may be helpful in controlling blood sugar, preventative alternatives like lifestyle changes are more potent. Indeed, the report suggested that the long term use of medication for diabetes may be linked to kidney damage, heart disease, blindness and even nerve damage.
The popular diabetes drug Metformin is a drug used to treat diabetes Type-2. The Caribbean is almost “notorious” for its high levels of diabetes and NCDs across the region with some countries prescribing diabetic medication free to the public as a matter of government policy.
The Study also stated that the negatives of the medication need to be weighed against the benefits over a lifetime.
“Sometimes there is a balance to be struck where certain medications might help give someone a longer life, but also cause side effects that might negatively impact on quality of life”, said Simon O’Neill, the director for health intelligence at Diabetes UK.
“This study highlights the importance of looking at the individual needs of the person with type-2 diabetes, rather than adopting a blanket approach.”
Diabetics on medication are being told not to get off medication before consulting their GP.
