(April 1, 2008 - Insidermedicine)  An antidiabetic drug that helps improve the body's sensitivity to insulin is more effective at slowing the buildup of plaque in the arteries than an antidiabetic drug that helps the body produce more insulin, according to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Here are some facts about type 2 diabetes and heart disease:

•    Those with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk for the development of a condition known as atherosclerosis, in which plaque builds up in the arteries feeding the heart.

•    Type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis are associated with significantly higher rates of cardiovascular events, including heart attacks.

•    In fact, cardiovascular disease is the cause of death in about three-quarters of those with diabetes.

In a research trial out of the Cleveland Clinic, investigators randomly divided over 500 patients with type 2 diabetes into either treatment with pioglitazone, commonly known as Actos, which works by helping the body respond to the insulin already present, or glimepiride, commonly known as Amaryl, which works by stimulating the body to produce more insulin. Before starting treatment, the patients had the amount of plaque in their arteries measured using an ultrasound-based technique.

After 18 months of treatment, 360 of the patients had the plaque in their arteries measured again. It had increased slightly among those taking Amaryl but generally stayed the same or even dropped slightly among those taking Actos.

While plaque buildup is only a marker for the risk of cardiovascular disease, today's research does suggest that Actos might be more effective at reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease than Amaryl.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.