Letter from the Editor: Quinine, Avandia and a Prescription for Type 2 Diabetes: EXERCISE!

It is not often that I venture out of the diabetes arena. However, this week I wanted to start out by reminding you that the FDA is again issuing a strong warning not to prescribe quinine for your patients who complain of leg cramps. This therapy may result in thrombocytopenia, which can cause serious bleeding or hemolytic-uremic syndrome/thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, which may lead to permanent kidney damage. The FDA found that in 2008, 38 severe incidents were reported and only one of these patients was using the medication for malaria.

Next Tuesday and Wednesday the FDA will be conducting a much anticipated meeting to decide the fate of Avandia. Although the decision to remove it from the market is pretty much up in the air, I think whichever way it goes that the FDA will come under pressure and will probably respond by making future approvals harder.

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Milt Bedingfield, MA, CDE, has a new book out, Prescription for Type 2 Diabetes: EXERCISE, and our new intern from the University of Florida, Katy Wallis, Pharm D Candidate, has a great review.

Announcements:

TCOYD 2010 Mini-Series, Wednesday, July 28, 2010, San Diego, CA: Type 1 Night Closing the Loop
"Type 1 Night Closing the Loop: Bridging the gap until there is a cure" hosted by Steven V. Edelman, MD.  Guest Speakers: Howard Zisser, MD, Sansum Diabetes Research Institute, Santa Barbara. Who Should Attend: All people with Type 1 diabetes and their family members and loved ones. Goal: Gain knowledge about closing the loop and experience the camaraderie of being with fellow Type 1’s and their families. For more 2010 upcoming conference details, please go to TCOYD.org.

dLife.com: July 11, 7PM ET on CNBC
Topics: dLife shares all of those lesser-known diabetes insights that can make a big difference in improving your health. A “Best of dLife” special. Sundays on CNBC at 7 PM ET, 6 PM CT, and 4 PM PT. Catch up on dLife.com.

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What should the FDA do about Rosiglitazone (Avandia)?

Check out this week's "Test Your Diabetes Knowledge" question!

Dave Joffe, Editor-in-chief