New Diabetes Treatments In Development (NAPSA)—An estimated 20.8 million Americans have diabetes, although nearly one-third of them are unaware that they have the disease. To help, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) is launching a cam- paign to improve diabetes awareness and provide patients with valuable information about the disease, how it can be treated and the 56 new drugs now being developed to help treat the disor- der by America’s pharmaceutical research companies. Diabetes Overview Diabetes is a serious metabolic disorder in which the body cannot break down glucose and useit for crowth and energy. There are three types of diabetes: e Type 1 diabetes develops when the body can no longer make the hormoneinsulin; e Type 2 diabetes develops New drugs in development may help people with diabetes better manage their disease. Progress In Treatment During the past decade, research breakthroughs have led to the approval of three new insulin products to treat type 1 and advanced type 2 diabetes. And beginning in 1995, a string of additional treat- ment advances has allowed people with type 2 diabetes to more effectively managetheir condition. A new PhRMAreport shows when the cells in the body no longer use insulin properly. Ninety to 95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, which typically develops in older, over- the drugs that are currently in development include: e A medicine that decreases common among African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, the nose; and weight adults. Although it affects all races, type 2 diabetes is more Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders and senior populations; and Gestational diabetes develops in some women while they are pregnant. Diabetes costs the United States an estimated $132 billion a year, according to the American Diabetes Association. Direct med- ical costs for diabetes care were responsible for $92 billion. Indirect costs, including disability payments, time lost from work and premature death, cost the United States $40billion. elevated glucose; Inhaled forms of insulin that do not require injections, including a form that is inhaled through e An oral medicine that affects the quantity of glucose reabsorbed by the kidneys. Because these medications have different mechanisms of action and different side effects, combination therapy can prevent patients from becoming hypo- glycemic (having blood sugar levels that are too low) or experiencing serious complications such as kidney problems. To learn more about treatments currently in development, visit the PhRMA Web site at www.phrma.org.
