Diabetes Rx Holds Promise

A study published Wednesday in the Journal Of The American Medical Association holds promising news for the 15 million Americans with Type 2 (non-insulin) diabetes. CBS News Health Correspondent Dr. Emily Senay reports on a study which for the first time focused on the short-term benefits of blood sugar control.

Researchers say they have proved that a combination of diet and medication is the most effective way to decrease blood sugar levels, and that controlling blood sugar directly improves employment productivity and quality of life.

The long-term benefits of controlling blood sugar have previously been well documented. Blindness and kidney failure are among the problems linked with high glucose levels.

However until now, there has been little research on the short-term benefits of glycemic control on quality of life.

The study showed that people who took oral medication and followed the recommended diet, clearly lead more productive lives than patients treated with diet therapy alone.

The researchers say that the patients studied were able to think more clearly, were less tired, missed fewer days at work, were less restricted in daily activities and enjoy an overall higher quality of life.

The improved blood sugar control also saves money and resources as patients require health care services less frequently.

The study was conducted by teams from the Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham and Women's Hospital and
Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass. The double-blind placebo-controlled trial studied 569 patients at 62 sites in the United States for an initial 3 week placebo period, followed by 12 weeks of controlled active therapy.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes; according to the American Diabetes Association, half of all Americans who have diabetes may not know it. Symptoms of the disease include frequent urination, excessive thirst, dry mouth, blurred vision, fatigue, wounds that do not heal well and general weakness.