This blog tracks updates to the Blood Sugar 101 Web site.


Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Added Link to Blog Post Examining Tresiba Label

Page Changed: Insulin for Type 2 Diabetes

Added the following:
Tresiba, a longer acting insulin was approved in late September of 2015. Basaglar, a biosimilar version of Lantus will not be sold in the U.S. until 2017,
You can learn more about the new basal insulins in these blog posts which go into the properties of each extensively:
Toujeo, a More Concentrated Version of Lantus
The Newly Approved Basal Insulin Tresiba's Label is Disappointing.

Thursday, September 17, 2015

FDA Links Invokana to Bone Fractures and Decreased Bone Mineral Density. Other Drugs in Class Suspect too.

Page Changed: 

SGLT2 Inhibitors, Farxiga, Invokana, Jardiance. Questionable New Drugs

Text Added:

Bone Fracture Risk and Decreased Bone Mineral Density

On Sept 10, 2015, the FDA issued a Safety Alert for Invokana and Invokamet, stating that  "Bone fractures have been seen in patients taking the type 2 diabetes medicine canagliflozin [Invokana].Fractures can occur as early as 12 weeks after starting canagliflozin. Canagliflozin has also been linked to decreases in bone mineral density at the hip and lower spine." Though the warning specifically mentioned Invokana, the oldest drug in this class, the warning bulletin also said "FDA is ontinuing to evaluate the risk of bone fractures with other drugs in the SGLT2 inhibitor class, including dapagliflozin (Farxiga, Xigduo XR) and empaglifozin (Jardiance, Glyxambi, Synjardy), to determine if additional label changes or studies are needed."FDA:Invokana and Invokamet (canagliflozin): Drug Safety Communication - New Information on Bone Fracture Risk and Decreased Bone Mineral DensityNote that once your bones have become weakened, it is very hard or possibly impossible to rebuild them. This side effect probably occurs because messing with how the kidneys excrete glucose also affects how they handle the minerals used build bones: phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium. If your doctor prescribes one of these drugs, ask him or her if they are aware of these two recent FDA safety warnings. Chances are that they may have missed them.