A new study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) and performed by researchers based at Imperial College London has found that people taking sulphonylureas, used for treating type 2 diabetes, are more at risk of heart problems than those taking the drug metformin.
This new study looked at the risks of having a heart attack, getting heart failure or dying for any reason whilst on one of the more common diabetes drugs. Figures were used from a database of prescribing information and cross checked with patient records. Each drug was compared with metformin, which is considered in guidelines to be the drug of first choice for people with type 2 diabetes.
The results were that people who took sulphonylureas were more likely to die of any cause, or get heart failure, compared with taking metformin. They were also more likely to have a heart attack, although this risk was not as high.
Sulphonylureas include the medicines: Chlorpropamide, glimepiride, glipizide, tolbutamide, glibenclamide and glicazide.
It is important to note that this study does not show that these drugs are doing people any harm, the researchers say that they just may not be reducing the overall risk of a having a heart attack, heart failure or dying for any other reason, compared with metformin.
Previous studies have shown that metformin seems to reduce the risk of having a heart attack in people with diabetes, especially if an individual is overweight. Although the drug is not suitable for everyone.
It’s important not to stop taking medications without talking to your doctor first, to avoid running the risk of high blood sugar and increasing the risk of complications from your diabetes. If you are worried, see your doctor or diabetes healthcare professional.