Type 2 diabetes is one of the most serious chronic conditions of the 21st century. Diagnoses of new cases, especially in young people, continue to accelerate. Two medications that are frequently used in the treatment of type-2 diabetes are Avandia and Actos. These so-called glitazone compounds boost insulin sensitivity and decrease insulin resistance. This helps improve blood sugar control. But questions have been raised about the effect of glitazones on bone metabolism. A recent review in the journal Drug Safety concludes that “glitazone use is associated with accelerated bone loss and an increased risk of fracture in humans.”
[Drug Safety, July 1, 2009]
