:dizzy: I was diagnosed in Dec with T2 diabetes and started Avandia and metformin immediately, plus a low carb diet and cinnamon and chromium.

April 5 I had a heart attack-no warning. Saved only by the Grace of God and the fact that I live 4 blocks from the hospital. I have since been dealing with an allergic reaction to Plavix and the drug eluding stents they had to put in to clear my blocked RCA. I immediately broke out in a severe rash and now all my skin is peeling off.They had to put me on large doses of Prednisone which raised my blood sugars terribly, and gave me shingles.I now have to take a drug with a "black box" warning on it and get blood work every 2 weeks to prevent my stents from clotting off and killing me. The drug that I'm on, Ticlid, causes SEVERE blood disorders that may kill me.Oh, and I was just told I have phlebitis in my hand and arm where they put in my IV over 7 weeks ago!
I called my Dr today and he said DO NOT take Avandia anymore and am starting Januvia tomorrow. I got my post-M.I. echocardiogram today and the tech was alarmed to see fluid around the outside of my heart-(pericardium).
I know that Diabetes and heart attacks are life threatening problems, but I've about had it with "modern medicine" and their pills. Any encouragement out there? I am a first time poster-long time silent reader and am always buoyed by all your support of each other. So sorry about the long post but I am almost at wits end.....

I THANK YOU for your post.

My dad has a hole in his heart from undiagnosed / untreated T2 diabetes. (His fault, 63 years old at the time and hadn't seen a doctor in 5 years...)

He had bypass (after 3 ignored heart attacks) and they attempted to patch the hole (in the septum). Patch only partially took, but he's been doing fairly well.

He's 70 now, his second wife just died. I've assumed the responsibility of calling him (cross-country) every day to ask what his blood-sugar is. So naturally I asked if he was taking Avandia when the news broke. And of course he is. I MADE him call his doctor, he saw him today. Doc says, "The manufacturer hasn't taken any action, the FDA hasn't taken any action - so keep taking Avandia."

Pardon me for thinking that a 70 year old man with a history of heart attacks who has just lost a second wife (less than 6 years after my mom died) doesn't really need a 64% increased risk of DYING from cardiac problems.

I'm venting, I know. I'm a member of the MS board, because I have MS. It is a frustrating, freaky disease that often forces otherwise complacent, compliant people into becoming obnoxious advocates for their own health care. AND MS ISN'T TERMINAL!!! It makes me crazy that a well-documented increase in risk for FATAL complications of a drug fails to illicit more than a single thread here.

I love my dad. I don't want to lose him simply because the economic well-being of a pharmaceutical company "needed" to be considered prior to taking official action.

God bless [the wealthiest 1% of] America...