Diabetes: 10 Deadliest Myths
Myth: Diabetes Drugs Are Mostly Free of Side Effects
One of the most popular diabetes drugs, Avandia, has been in the news a lot lately. That's because it's been associated with heart problems. But all diabetes medications have side effects.
Metformin, the oral drug most often used as a first line of defense against type 2 diabetes, often causes digestive symptoms. Other drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes cause weight gain - which is unfortunate, since being overweight is a common problem among people with type 2 diabetes. Insulin injections present the same annoying problem.
This doesn't mean that people shouldn't take diabetes medications. But It does emphasize the need for diet and lifestyle approaches that can minimize the need for medicines.
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