Type 2 diabetes is difficult to manage and some doctors are overly eager to prescribe new and exciting drugs that hit the market.
However, drug representatives often do not relay the dangerous side effects that can lead to serious personal injury or wrongful death.
Statins
Statins exist to reduce LDL cholesterol and have been heavily marketed to diabetic patients. However, these drugs have serious consequences, including but not limited to muscle deterioration and weakness.
Ozempic
In 2017, the FDA approved an insulin-stimulating drug derived from Gila monster venom. Ozempic is appealing because it controls blood sugar while promoting weight loss, which is important for diabetic patients. However, common side effects include abdominal pain, vision loss and kidney failure. Many health care providers ignore the listed side effects because of the chance they could be transient, but many patients suffer permanent and life-altering damage as a result of their diabetes medication.
SGLT2 inhibitors
SGLT2 inhibitors work to excrete excess blood sugar through the urinary tract. This class of drugs includes brand names:
- Jardiance
- Farxiga
- Invokana
- Steglatro
The concern with these medications is the strain put on the kidneys by high sugar levels. Over time, the drugs begin to cannibalize your major organs, leading to heart attack, kidney failure or chronic disease. Additionally, these drugs promote prolonged ketoacidosis, which can be extremely dangerous for diabetic patients.
The list of diabetes medications is ever-growing, but these expensive and problematic drugs often do not outperform traditional treatment options. If your doctor recommends a change in your medications, be sure to ask for specific reasons why.
