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Zainab Umay, Pharm.D. Candidate 2027
A commonly used drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus is a class of medications called sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, also known as gliflozins. These drugs lower blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes by stimulating the renal excretion of glucose. Besides its use in type 2 diabetes, this class of drugs can be used interchangeably to help with cardiovascular issues as well. Recent research studies have shown that the use of SGLT2 inhibitors, such as empagliflozin and canagliflozin, can have benefits beyond glycemic control. It was noted that this class of drugs showed significant reductions in major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) such as a lower rate of hospitalization due to heart failure, and a lower rate of cardiovascular death with these individuals. Some of these drugs have already been FDA approved for uses other than labeled, such as for chronic kidney disease. Although ongoing research is required to label gliflozins as a treatment option, this leaves us with the following question: could SGLT2 inhibitors potentially become first-line treatment for those with cardiovascular risk factors?
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