Link Between Diabetes Drug Victoza and Pancreatic Cancer Studied by Israel’s Health Ministry
In recent years pharmaceutical companies have introduced numerous medications to tackle the growing threat of type 2 diabetes. Over 26 million individuals sufferer form type 2 diabetes in the United States accounting for more that 8% of the total population of the county. Similar rates of diabetes have been reported in developed and developing countries across the world.
Amongst the medications developed in recent years to tackle diabetes include Victoza, Januvia, and Byetta. According to recent studies and anecdotal evidence the use of the drugs may be linked to a growing spate of pancreatic inflammation, acute pancreatitis and development of pancreatic cancer. The ministry of health of the state of Israel has undertaken the task of establishing a link between the use of these medications and pancreatic inflammation.
According to Haaretz, one of the largest new organizations in the State of Israel, the health ministry of the Jewish state has asked doctors across the county to, “pay attention to a possible connection between new drug for treating diabetes – called incertin mimetics – and pancreatitis.”
Incretin Mimetics Link to Pancreatic Inflammation
The Israeli health ministry concerns over the health effects of Incretin Mimetics medication comes at the heels of the US Food and Drug Administration safety communication in March of 2013. According to the communication after increased data from researchers and academics that FDA will begin a thorough investigation into the link between diabetes medications and pancreatic inflammation. Drugs containing Incretin Mimetics, “work by mimicking the incretin hormones that the body usually produces naturally to stimulate the release of insulin in response to a meal.” Such drugs are prescribed along with increased regulation of a patients in their daily food intake and exercise routine to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. More information: FDA Warning on Type 2 diabetes medication Signs and Symptoms of Pancreatic Inflammation – Pancreatitis: Individuals who are currently taking diabetes 2 medications including Victoza, Januvia, and Byetta, should be aware of the signs and symptoms of pancreatic inflammation. Some of the most common signs are as follows.- Upper abdominal pain radiating to the back
- Nausea and vomiting
- Indigestion
- Abdominal pain gets worse after consuming foods
- Fever
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