Which drugs are used to lower blood sugar in ACCORD?
All major classes of drugs approved by the FDA to treat diabetes were used to treat blood sugar in both groups of the ACCORD blood sugar trial – those in the intensive strategy group that targeted near-normal blood sugar level as well as those in the standard blood sugar strategy group. Specific medications used included (in order of frequency of use): metformin; thiazolidinediones, or TZD’s (rosiglitazone, pioglitazone); injectable insulins; sulfonylureas (gliclazide, glimepiride, glipizide, glyburide); and acarbose and exenatide. Combinations of medications could be used to achieve the A1C goals. The type, number and dosages of these drugs varied, depending on participants’ individual needs and their A1C goals. For example, metformin was used in about 95% of intensive-group participants, and in about 87% of standard group participants. Insulin was used in about 77% of intensive-group participants, and in about 55% of standard-group participants. Participants in the intensive group we
