Old Drug May Offer New Benefits for Diabetes

People with diabetes were able to lower triglycerides and blood sugar with an inexpensive arthritis drug that has been around for decades. A multi-center study of approximately 100 patients found that salsalate, a medicine related to aspirin, was moderately effective in reducing blood sugar over time. The drug also reduces inflammation and has been used for painful joints. Some patients on salsalate in combination with standard diabetes drugs experienced excessive blood sugar reductions. The investigators suggest more research is needed before doctors should prescribe salsalate routinely, but it is exciting to have a new approach that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. If researchers can figure out how salsalate works, they may uncover a new way to control diabetes.

[Annals of Internal Medicine, March 16, 2010]