New Help for Type II Diabetics

Starlix, the new diabetes drug the FDA approved for marketing in recent days, is a welcome pharmaceutical particularly for early Type II patients who are elderly, according to a UAB specialist involved in the drug's clinical trials. UAB endocrinologist David Bell, M.D., says Starlix can be taken just before eating and acts immediately to raise insulin levels, then stops acting quickly. "This is very good at covering what's called post prandial needs. Its short duration means that there's no danger even if the patient fails to eat right away." He cautions that the drug doesn't work if taken after eating. The first of a new class of drugs, Starlix is an amino acid derivative. Contact Hank Black, Media Relations, 205-934-8938 or [email protected].