There have been several studies looking at the effects of Avandamet for
type 2 diabetes:
Hemoglobin A1c
Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is a test used to measure long-term blood sugar control. For people without
diabetes, HbA1c results are usually less than 6 percent, while people with diabetes usually have higher results. In one study, people taking Avandamet lowered their HbA1c by up to 2.3 percent on average. In the same study, people taking
metformin or
rosiglitazone alone did not lower their HbA1c as much as people taking Avandamet.
Studies have shown that the higher the HbA1c, the greater the chance for developing long-term problems related to diabetes. This includes such problems as
heart disease,
diabetic retinopathy,
diabetic neuropathy, and diabetic nephropathy. By getting blood sugar levels under control with Avandamet, it may be possible to decrease the chances for developing these
diabetes complications.
Fasting Blood Sugar
Fasting blood sugar is another way to study the effects of
diabetes drugs. In studies, people taking Avandamet decreased their fasting blood sugar levels by 74 mg/dL on average, while people taking metformin or rosiglitazone alone lowered their fasting blood sugar levels by only 47 to 51 mg/dL on average.
Cholesterol
When and How to Take Avandamet
Some general considerations for when and how to take the medication include:
- Avandamet comes in tablet form. It should be taken by mouth, usually once or twice daily.
- To prevent an upset stomach, it is best to try to take the medication with food.
- It should be taken at the same time(s) each day to maintain an even level of the drug in your blood.
- For Avandamet to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. The drug will not work if you stop taking it.
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