A recent research has shown that a certain class of oral drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes can increase the risk of heart failure in patients. Researchers found out that a class of drugs known as thiazolidinediones can double the risk of heart failure in diabetics. These drugs are used to control blood sugar levels. Rosiglitazone and pioglitazone are the two major thiazolidinediones prescribed to diabetics.

Researchers analyzed the data collected from four long-term trials. Researchers found that rosiglitazone doubled heart failure risk among the diabetes patients.

This research was led by Sonal Singh, assistant professor of internal medicine, and Curt D. Furberg, M.D., Ph.D., professor of public health sciences, from Wake Forest University School of Medicine faculty members said that thiazolidinediones can exacerbate heart attack risk.

Researchers said that they strongly recommend restrictions in the use of thiazolidinediones (the class of drugs) and question the rationale for leaving rosiglitazone on the market. They added at this time, justification for use of thiazolidinediones is very weak to non-existent.

Singh and Furberg said that diabetics have high blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which "further compound their already increased risk of developing ischemic heart disease." They added that heart disease and high blood pressure "represent conditions that are major precursors of congestive heart failure."