An Arthritis Drug for Type 2 Diabetes

By Jennifer Abney Anchor

Researchers believe drug used to treat arthritis could help patients with type 2 diabetes. An Arthritis Drug for Type 2 Diabetes

Published: Thu, September 11, 2008 - 4:43 am Last Updated: Wed, October 01, 2008 - 10:25 am

Jennifer Abney

Type 2 diabetes is a condition which affects the body’s ability to use glucose, a form of sugar, for energy. Normally, the pancreas produces insulin to help the body use and store glucose. In type 2 diabetes, the body either doesn’t make enough insulin or is unable to effectively use insulin. High levels of glucose may circulate in the blood. Yet, the body’s cells can’t get the fuel they need to work efficiently.

According to the American Diabetes Association, about 23.6 million Americans have diabetes. Type 2 is the most common form, accounting for 90 to 95 percent of all cases. The condition is typically seen in overweight, under-active middle-aged people. However, with the rising obesity epidemic in children, doctors are seeing cases of type 2 diabetes at much younger ages.

Over time, elevated levels of glucose can damage blood vessels, tissues and organs. People with diabetes are at higher risk for heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, nerve damage, poor wound healing and amputations. The American Diabetes Association reports diabetes contributed to 233,619 deaths in 2005. Researchers estimate the disease decreases lifespan by five to ten years.

An Arthritis Drug for Type 2 Diabetes
Steve Shoelson, M.D., Ph.D., a Diabetes Researcher with Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, says in patients with type 2 diabetes, obesity appears to cause inflammation that may eventually affect cells’ ability to use insulin. Traditional diabetes treatments target the symptoms (i.e., lower blood sugar levels), but don’t address the cause of the problem (the inflammation).

Researchers are now testing the use of an anti-inflammatory medication, called salsalate. Salsalate is a chemical cousin of aspirin and it’s currently approved for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and other inflammatory conditions. In diabetes, salsalate appears to shut off the protein that causes inflammation. Allison Goldfine, M.D., Clinical Research Director at Joslin, says two earlier studies have found patients taking the drug had improved markers of inflammation and lower fasting blood sugar levels. The investigators say salsalate may help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. In a more recent study, the researchers found salsalate may also be useful in treating patients who already have type 2 diabetes.

Researchers are now testing the usefulness of salsalate for treating diabetes in a wider clinical trial. Another study will look at the drug’s effects on atherosclerotic plaque in the coronary arteries. Hopefully, reducing the markers of inflammation will decrease plaque build-up and decrease the risk for cardiovascular complications from diabetes. For more information on the studies, check out www.joslin.org.

Side effects of salsalate include hearing problems, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), nausea, rash and vertigo. Health experts say non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, like salsalate, are also associated with an increased risk for ulcers or stomach bleeding.

For information on the research at Joslin, go to www.joslin.org.

For more information on the TINSAL-T2D trial, visit www.tinsalt2d.org.

For general information on type 2 diabetes:
American Diabetes Association
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases