Health Buzz: FDA Considers New Diabetes Drug and Other Health News

New Diabetes Drug Appears Safe, but Long-Term Data Needed

A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel said yesterday that Onglyza (saxagliptin), a type 2 diabetes medication made by AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb, does not appear to cause heart problems observed with similar drugs, the Associated Press reports. But once Onglyza gets approved and goes on sale, long-term research will be needed to confirm its safety, the panel said. The FDA issued new safety guidelines for diabetes treatments last year because of concern about increased heart attack risk associated with GlaxoSmithKline's diabetes drug Avandia. In a 10-to-2 vote, the panel said that research submitted by Bristol-Myers Squibb does not indicate that Onglyza leads to heart attack, stroke, or other problems. The panel also unanimously agreed that long-term study data are needed in high-risk patients, particularly elderly diabetics, the AP reports. The FDA typically follows the recommendation of its advisory panels; approval of Onglyza, which would compete with the diabetes drug Januvia, is expected by April 30.

The 21st annual American Diabetes Alert Day, when the American Diabetes Association asks you to take a moment to gauge your risk of having or developing type 2 diabetes with its quick and simple risk test, was in March. For those who have already been diagnosed with diabetes, monitoring blood glucose levels is essential. For daily blood glucose control, consider these 4 tips for a low-carb diet, or try these 2 tips to help lower A1C levels without medication.

How to Get a Good Night's Sleep—and Maybe Cure Your Insomnia

If insomnia is derailing your sleep, a prescription sleeping pill may not be the best cure. Among the top suggestions for getting a good night's rest: Practice good "sleep hygiene." This doesn't mean making sure your bedding is clean. It means following good sleep habits, especially ensuring that the bedroom environment is conducive to sleep. Among experts' other recommendations: Use the bedroom only for sleep and sex; keep regular sleep and wake times; eliminate afternoon caffeine; and banish pets (and snoring partners) from the bedroom.

Read on for U.S. News's complete list of 10 tips you can use to get better sleep. Just be sure not to ignore the problem. Insomnia may signal other medical or psychiatric problems, particularly in women, and a savvy practitioner may diagnose and treat an underlying problem that would otherwise escape detection.

Walgreens Clinics Offer Free Medical Care for Unemployed, Uninsured Workers

Walgreens is extending a helping hand to unemployed, uninsured workers and their families, offering to treat minor aches and pains free at its Take Care clinics in 342 locations in some 30 metro areas, Michelle Andrews reports. But there's a catch: To be eligible, workers or their family members must have visited a Take Care clinic in the past. This is corporate do-goodism with an eye firmly on the bottom line. If you think you may be laid off anytime soon—and who doesn't, these days?—this is a none-too-subtle push to get you to visit a Take Care clinic for that tetanus booster or wart evaluation you've been putting off. Then, if a pink slip does arrive, you're good to go and can take advantage of the free care program. "There are still a lot of people who have no idea these clinics exist, and this will absolutely help raise awareness," says Darren Brandt, a spokesperson for Take Care Health Systems, the Walgreens-owned company that runs the clinics.

If you're concerned about your healthcare costs, check out our advice for how to get cheaper drugs, take advantage of the subsidy for COBRA health coverage, and strategically use your flexible spending account, or FSA.

Parents Seek Answers About HPV Vaccine Side Effects

In a perfect world, a doctor who suspects her patient has suffered a vaccine-related injury would file a medical report with the government's vaccine adverse event reporting system (VAERS) on the patient's behalf. For a serious or complicated case, the doctor would then follow up to determine if the patient's individual case can be investigated by a researcher from the government's clinical immunization safety assessment network. Parents of vaccinated kids, too, should be able to get some answers directly from the government or vaccine maker to find out what's being done to determine whether the vaccine is the culprit of their child's illness. But Deborah Kotz reports that's not usually the way the process goes, according to some parents whose daughters experienced health problems after being vaccinated with Gardasil, which protects against certain strains of the human papillomavirus, or HPV.

Determining whether your child should get the HPV vaccine can be a difficult decision. One teen recently died after being vaccinated and then becoming ill with a degenerative muscle disease, and her parents say they think the HPV vaccine played a role in her illness. Also, consider whether parents should get their sons circumcised in order to prevent HPV infections.

—January W. Payne

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