The Joslin Diabetes Center researchers built upon an earlier study showing the inexpensive, non-steroidal salsalate, might prevent the disease, too, the center said Thursday in a news release.

"These are the first studies showing that potentially safe and tolerable doses of salsalate lower blood sugars and have other favorable effects in patients with type 2 diabetes," said Dr. Allison Goldfine, senior report author and Joslin clinical research director.

Goldfine was lead researcher for the earlier study demonstrating salsalate may prevent type 2 diabetes by lowering blood glucose and reducing inflammation.

The paper, in the May 2008 issue of the journal Clinical and Translational Science, reports on studies demonstrating salsalate, used for decades to treat arthritis, may benefit patients with type 2 diabetes by lowering blood sugar and reducing inflammation.

Together, the studies led to clinical trials seeking to confirm the benefit of targeting inflammation using salsalate to lower glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes or who are at risk for diabetes, or to reduce a specific condition in patients with coronary artery disease, the center said.