In a post a few months ago I had mentioned the concern over studies that showed a potential link between the diabetes drug Avandia and heart attacks. Well, the FDA boldly stepped out and muddied the waters today in a way that only a government agency can do.

There are different levels or warning labels the FDA can require a company to put on a product. Probably the best known of these is the warning label in the black box on a pack of cigarettes. Well, Avandia now has a black box, sort of.

With the evidence inconclusive, but a clamor from scientific community to do something, the FDA has now officially added the warning “Avandia may be associated with “myocardial ischemic events such as angina or myocardial infarction”. Not IS associated or ISN’T associated, but may be associated.

I understand the need to cover your rear these days, but rather than put a completely ambiguous warning on the package, why not just tell doctors that, until further research is done, prescribing Avandia to patients with any signs of coronary artery disease should be avoided.

Bottom line. From a life insurance perspective, the last thing someone with type 2 diabetes needs is a cardiac event such as a heart attack. Depending on your age and the severity of the attack, it will kick you into a category that will either be highly rated or declined. If you have any concerns and are taking Avandia, ask your doctor if they can clarify the FDA warning.