Sodium Glucose Co-Transporter-2 (SGLT2) Inhibitors: A Review of Their Basic and Clinical Pharmacology

Abstract

Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a newly developed class of oral anti-diabetic drugs (OADs) with a unique mechanism of action. This review describes the biochemistry and physiology underlying the use of SGLT2 inhibitors, and their clinical pharmacology, including mechanism of action and posology. The pragmatic placement of these molecules in the existing OAD arena is also discussed.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13300-014-0089-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The Safety and Efficacy of SGTL2 Inhibitors in Diabetes Mellitus Management

“…As such the conclusions made from them are of limited use; as such therapy must be used for life (12). That being said it has been demonstrated that SGLT2 inhibitor use within T1DM can lead to decreased insulin requirements of up to 16%, this is particularly of benefit in the young who often omit insulin for fear of its anabolic effects (7). In addition in T1DM it was found that use of compounds such as dapagliflozin could increase glucosuriaby 88mg/day and a recent meta-analysis found that the improvements SGLT2i could have on DM management when used as an add on therapy to insulin were dose independent with body weight reductions increased in T2DM patients versus T1DM and improved glucose control in particularly eastern Asian patients (13).…”

Efficacy and Safety of Addition of Empagliflozin in Diabetic Patients Uncontrolled With Glimepiride + Metformin + Teneligliptin

“…12 Empagliflozin, a potent and competitive SGLT2 inhibitor, is a well-tolerated drug in T2DM patients. [13][14][15] The drug has gained US FDA in August 2014 to reduce T2DM associated cardiovascular risk in adult patients.…”

Healthcare costs of urinary tract infections and genital mycotic infections among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus initiated on canagliflozin: a retrospective cohort study

“…pyelonephritis) 16 . SGLT-2 inhibitors are a novel class of diabetic agents with an insulin-independent action 17 . These drugs reduce hyperglycemia in patients with T2DM by increasing urinary glucose excretion 18,19 .…”