In the Houston Chronicle, People's Pharmacy columnists Joe Graedon and Teresa Graedon remember a drug scandal from 1970 that mirrors today's Avandia troubles almost exactly. Orinase, a popular diabetes drug was found to be increasing the very heart trouble it was designed (and marketed) to prevent.

Orinase's active ingredient is tolbutamide, a substance that stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin. According to the Graedons, the heart damage being caused by Orinase-takers was first revealed by the University Group Diabetes Program in 1970 following an extensive analysis of diabetes care in the US. Like the Avandia controversy, experts also debated the results of the University Group's conclusions on Orinase, yet it was more or less eventually accepted as fact that drugs belonging to the class sulfonylureas, including tolbutamide, do indeed increase the likelihood of heart problems. I say "more or less" because many authorities still hedge their bets. Example? The health site Drugs.com copies info on Orinase provided by Thomson Healthcare/Micromedix. According to that source, sulfonylureas, have been "reported, but not proven in all studies, to increase the risk of death from heart and blood vessel disease." [My emphasis.] This, thirty-seven years after the release of the study demonstrating such risk!

Orinase is still prescribed in certain situations. Is Avandia destined to end up sidelined, yet still on the market, like Orinase? Seems to be headed that way. In the meantime, the unfortunate reality is that new drugs will continue to be rushed to market and serious side effects discovered (or made public) only after they have been prescribed to thousands of people. The fact is, today's high-tech (and high-priced!) wonder drugs all come with a dose of risk.

Our odiferous little friend has been touted for many health benefits. Diabetics should pay close attention because, although it has the dubious distinction of causing dragon breath, let us not allow the immediate social expense to outweigh the long-term health payoff.

Medical research has been underway to assess whether these traditional uses of garlic have scientific validity. Much of the research is showing real promise. Knowing that heart disease is twice as likely to strike diabetics, it would behoove many of us to take a chance with a few cloves of garlic every day. What have you got to lose? Studies suggest that fresh garlic may prevent blood clots and destroy plaque. A little garlic breath never killed anyone. Can't say the same for plaque in your blood now, can we?

In addition, garlic may be beneficial for risk factors for heart disease, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Preliminary studies in rabbits, rats, and limited numbers of people have demonstrated that garlic has some ability to lower blood sugars. A few cloves of garlic can substantially affect some medications. For example, if you are on a sulfonylurea drug, you will want to be extra cautious of the effects garlic will have on your blood sugars. A few popular examples of these drugs are: Dymelor, Diabinese, Tolinase, Orinase, Amaryl, Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL, DiaBeta, Micronase, and Glynase. Whenever the opportunity presents itself, I would choose Mother Nature over scientific intervention. This is one of those little dietary adjustments that might be worth a try.