Further Evidence for Salsalate in Type 2 Diabetes

By Diane Fennell The inexpensive anti-inflammatory drug salsalate, used to treat arthritis, lowers inflammation and blood glucose levels in people who have Type 2 diabetes, according to findings from stage two of the TINSAL-T2D study. Previous research has shown that inflammation plays a role in the development of Type 2. Stage one of TINSAL-T2D (Targeting Inflammation Using Salsalate for Type 2 Diabetes), conducted by researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center, compared various doses of the medicine in 108 people with Type 2 diabetes for 14 weeks. In stage two, the scientists investigated the use of the medicine in 286 people with Type 2 for 48 weeks. The participants, whose blood glucose levels were inadequately controlled by conventional diabetes medicines, were randomly selected to receive either 3.5 grams a day of salsalate in addition to their current therapies or a placebo (inactive treatment) along with their current therapies. At the end of the study period, the average A1C level (a measure of glucose control over the previous 2–3 months) was 37% lower in the salsalate group than in the placebo group. Members of the salsalate group also experienced a 15 mg/dl greater drop in fasting blood glucose levels and required fewer additional diabetes medicines to control their blood glucose than those in the placebo group. There were also improvements in markers of heart health in the salsalate group, including a 9% reduction in triglycerides (a type of blood fat) and...
Source: Diabetes Self-Management - Category: Diabetes Authors: Source Type: blogs