The Effects of Sodium–Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors on Body Composition in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Body composition is related to cardiometabolic disorders and is a major driver of the growing incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Altered fat distribution and decreased muscle mass are related to dysglycemia and impose adverse health-related outcomes in people with T2DM. Hence, improving body composition and maintaining muscle mass is crucial in T2DM. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are novel glucose-lowering medications gaining popularity because of their cardiorenal-protective effects and weight-lowering characteristics. However, reports on myopathy secondary to SGLT2 inhibitor treatment raised a safety concern. The importance of maintaining muscle mass in people with T2DM necessitates further investigation to explore the impact of novel medications on body composition. In this review, we discussed current evidence on the impact of SGLT2 inhibitors on body composition in people with T2DM. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13300-023-01481-7.

Unexpectedly Rapid Onset of Severe Sarcopenia in an Elderly Diabetic Man following SGLT2i Administration: A Case Report

“…There is a bidirectional interplay between T2DM and sarcopenia [7]. The latter may have a deleterious influence on glycemic control, wherein T2DM entails a chronic inflammation state; oxidative stress; and protein breakdown in muscles, which potentiates muscle mass loss, which may trigger the onset of sarcopenia [8].…”