The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the drug pioglitazone (Actos) on July 16 for the treatment of type 2, or adult onset diabetes. The drug is a latest member of the thiazolidinedione class of drugs, which includes Rezulin and Avandia, to be approved for use in diabetics. Side effects of the pioglitazone include headaches, upper respiratory infection and muscle aches, but the drug does not appear to cause liver problems.

COMMENT: Rezulin, as newsletter readers know, has been linked with an increased risk of liver toxicity and liver failure. Drugs, if used at all for diabetes, are a last ditch option. Unfortunately, many will not use the no grain diet to treat this soon enough. Their pancreatic reserve and insulin receptor sensitivity becomes so compromised that the diet will not work and these types of drugs may be the only option they have.