Diabetics Are at Increased Risk of Pancreatitis and Gallbladder Disease, Study Shows
People with type 2 diabetes are nearly three times more likely to develop acute pancreatitis and disease of the gallbladder and bile ducts, according to new medical research.
The study was prompted by recent developments involving the diabetes drug Byetta, which has been associated with dozens of cases of acute pancreatitis, a condition marked by sudden and painful inflammation of the pancreas. Amylin Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly, the makers of Byetta, supported the research.
Study Focuses on Thousands of Diabetics
For the study, researchers examined the medical records of nearly one million adults from across the United States who enrolled in health insurance programs from 1999 to 2005. From that group, there were 337,067 people with type 2 diabetes.
Researchers found that among those patients with type 2 diabetes, the incidence of pancreatitis was 2.8-fold higher than people without diabetes. The incidence of biliary disease of the gallbladder and bile ducts was 1.9-fold higher among those with type 2 diabetes, compared to non-diabetics.
Younger diabetics between the ages of 18 and 30 had the highest risk of both diseases among all type 2 diabetics, the study found.
Byetta Linked to Pancreatitis
Byetta, one of the leading brands of type 2 diabetes drugs, has been blamed for an increased risk of pancreatitis in people taking the drug. Patients taking Byetta have reported suffering hemorrhagic pancreatitis resulting in injury and death.
In 2008, the Food and Drug Administration ordered stronger warnings about the risks of pancreatitis to be added to Byetta’s packaging. That warning came after two Byetta users died and four others were hospitalized due to pancreas injuries caused by the drug.
Since 2007, the FDA said it has received at least 30 reports of acute pancreatitis in Byetta users.
Symptoms of pancreatitis include sudden and severe abdominal pain that radiates to the back or chest, nausea, vomiting, fever, swelling or tenderness in the abdomen, and rapid pulse.
Related posts:
- Atomic Bomb Survivors at Increased Heart Disease & Stroke Risks People who survived the atomic bombs dropped on Japan more...
- Contraceptive Yaz Linked to Deadly Gallbladder Disease, Blood Clots The prescription birth-control drug Yaz and the related drugs Yasmin...
- More People Being Hurt in Hot Tub Accidents, Study Shows Slips and falls, burns from water that is too hot,...
- Popular Bowel Disease Drugs Linked to Increased Cancer Risks Imuran, azathioprine, and other drugs which reduce the body’s immune...
- FDA Orders Revisions to Januvia and Janumet Labeling for Acute Pancreatitis The Food and Drug Administration is warning about dozens of...
