Research presented by the American Diabetes Association points to an increased risk of fracture among people with type 2 diabetes who take a thiazolidinedione (TZD) such as pioglitazone (Actos) and rosiglitazone (Avandia) to help control blood sugar. The study consisted of 69,047 patients who were taking a TZD, and 75,352 who were not. Among those taking a TZD, there were 3,346 fractures, 43 percent more than in patients not taking the drug. When analyzed by gender, women taking a TZD were 55 percent more likely to experience a bone fracture, while men had a 26 percent greater likelihood of fracture. TZDs are used by as many as four million Americans, and diabetes patients already are at a higher risk for bone fractures. Researchers urged physicians to consider the increased risk of fractures with these agents when weighing treatment options for their patients.
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