Medicines for diabetes such as metformin to lower blood sugar levels may not be suitable for some patients. A study from the University of Michigan, USA, published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine calls on doctors to exercise caution when prescribing treatment for type 2 diabetes. The balance must be made between the benefits and costs of taking a drug.
On the benefit side, the study takes the example of a 45-year-old patient who can, thanks to an antidiabetic, lower his sugar level by 1%, which represents a gain of ten months in good health. In a 75-year-old patient, the gain would be three weeks of healthy life.
On the downside, the researchers point out that these lifelong treatments cause inconvenience such as multiple injections and daily blood sugar control tests, drugs that cause indigestion or illness, or insulin treatments that lower dangerously blood sugar, at the risk of causing hypoglycemia.
Blood sugar control should not affect the quality of life of diabetic patients, the researchers point out. This is why those affected should check with a doctor about the benefits and drawbacks of each treatment before starting one. “This study highlights the importance of looking at the individual needs of each patient with type 2 diabetes, rather than taking a holistic approach,” they conclude.
Are you on treatment for diabetes? What are the possible side effects encountered? Your opinion on the forum.