Fed: Drug promises new food freedom for diabetics

AAP General News (Australia)
04-19-2000
Fed: Drug promises new food freedom for diabetics

By Rada Rouse, National Medical Correspondent

BRISBANE, April 19 AAP - Diabetics will have freedom to eat when they like with the
first oral medication in 50 years which stimulates an optimum amount of insulin, an expert
said today.

Dr Richard Simpson, director of diabetes and endocrinology at Box Hill Hospital, Melbourne,
said unlike current therapies the new tablet only needs to be taken with a meal.

"The first oral treatments for diabetes came on the market 50 years ago and nothing
much has changed since," DR Simpson said.

The problem with this class, called sulphanylureas, was that they produced insulin
constantly, leading to the danger of hypoglycaemia, or low blood sugar, attack.

The new tablet, repaglinide or NovoNorm, launched in Australia today, mimics the body's
natural insulin response to meals.

"It's the timing of the production of insulin which is unique about this medication,"

Dr Simpson said.

"The pancreas no longer makes it in excess between meals so you no won't be running
the risk of a hypoglycaemic attack."

Dr Simpson has used repaglinide for type 2, non-insulin dependent diabetes patients
over the past three years as part of an international trial of 2,000 people.

"The first post-marketing survey in Germany has found a very high acceptance rate,
with something like 90 per cent of patients saying they wanted to stay on NovoNorm," he
said.

He said a major plus was lifestyle flexibility, because the regimentation of regular
snacks and meals could be relaxed.

Research had shown nearly 40 per cent of all diabetics eat when they are not hungry
because of fear of low blood sugar, leading to weight control becoming a challenge.

"Twenty-five per cent of Australians say they skip lunch, and repaglinide will allow
diabetics to skip lunch if they like," he said.

Dr Simpson said he expected a significant number of diabetics taking tablets to switch
to NovoNorm, although it would not suit everyone.

"It does involve taking potentially more tablets and for many having to remember to
take the tablets with food will be a compliance issue," he said.

Repaglinide was in the vanguard of the new class of anti-diabetic agents called meglitinides
but another two chemically similar tablets were believed to be heading for the market,
he said.

The drug has been approved as an add-on therapy to metformim where this alone does
not satisfactorily control blood glucose levels.

AAP rr/sc/cjh/

KEYWORD: DIABETES

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