New treatments bring relief to people with asthma, diabetes

When Khalil Gibran said “progress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward what will be,” he wasn’t talking about improvements in treatment of asthma and diabetes, but he could have been. Three new treatments are likely to change what will be for folks contending with those conditions.

1. For people dealing with uncontrolled moderate to severe asthma, a phase-3, double-blind, randomized study found that a combo of 180 micrograms of albuterol (a bronchodilator) and 160 micrograms of budesonide (a corticosteroid) used as rescue medication helps stop an asthma attack better than albuterol alone. Plus, it cut the risk of a severe asthma attack by 26%.

2. The Food and Drug Administration has recently approved a new Type 2 diabetes medication, tirzepatide. In five clinical studies, it’s been shown to lower A1c levels better than long-acting insulin degludec or insulin glargine, the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide (Ozempic), or a placebo. A 15 mg dose of the once-weekly injection caused a 1.6% decrease in A1c vs. placebo — enough to put some folks’ A1C below 5.7%, the normal level.

3. Pain from diabetic neuropathy can be crippling. The SENZA-PDN trial shows patients receiving high-frequency (10-k-Hz) spinal cord stimulation using the FDA-approved implantable Senza System see meaningful relief. According to Cleveland Clinic researcher Dr. Christian Nasr, in the first six-month trial, which compared the device to conventional medical management, participants using Senza saw a 76.3% reduction in pain; 93% of participants then asked to have the device implanted permanently. Sweet relief may be in your future, too.

Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. His next book is “The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow.” Do you have a topic Dr. Mike should cover in a future column? If so, please email questions@GreatAgeReboot.com.