Actos (pioglitazone) is an oral diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels. Actos is for people with type 2 diabetes. Actos is not for treating type 1 diabetes. You should not use Actos if you have severe or uncontrolled heart failure, active bladder cancer, or diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin). This medicine is not for treating type 1 diabetes.