Tanzeum-New FDA Approved Drug to Treat Type 2 Diabetes

The good news, for non-insulin dependent diabetic sufferers (type 2 only), is that a new drug, Tanzeum (albiglutide), has been approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration).

In conjunction with daily exercise and a low-sugar diet – Tanzeum (a subcutaneous injection) helps to control blood glucose levels.

About 24 million individuals have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and it is important to effectively control this disease to reduce and even eliminate the risk of nerve damage, blindness, heart disease and damage to the kidneys.

Not every person that has T2D reacts the same way to the variety of drugs on the market, but overall the goal of a medication designed to treat and help manage Type 2 diabetes should:

1. Limit the amount of glucose released into the bloodstream from the liver.
2. Increase the cell response to insulin.
3. Increase the output of insulin by the pancreas.
4. Slow the absorption of carbohydrates.

More than 2,000 diabetic patients participated in 8 different clinical studies that tested the effectiveness of Tanzeum. The participating individuals showed significant improvements in their HbA1c levels.

Tanzeum has been tested and studied alone, and with other diabetic treatments/drugs, such as glimepiride, metformin and insulin. Tanzeum is not recommended for individuals with Type 1 diabetes or people that have been diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis (elevated ketones in urine or blood).

Common side-effects noted during the clinical studies were nausea, diarrhea and possible rash or other skin reaction at the injection site (which can be the thigh, abdomen or upper arm).

Although a warning has been printed on the drug box, that Tanzeum may increase a person’s risk of getting thyroid tumors, clinical studies have not conclusively proven this to be true.

Manufactured by Glaxo-Smith Kline Pharmaceuticals, Tanzeum is a drug to aid in controlling blood glucose (sugar) levels, in individuals that have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. This injectable diabetic drug is administered only once a week, and the recommended dosage is 30mg. If your health care professional recommends a dose of 30 mg of Tanzeum, and it does not produce a positive impact on blood sugar levels, they may decide to increase the dosage to 50mg.