The relationship between sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors and diabetic ketosis/infection: single center retrospective experiences

Abstract

Aims: Diabetes is a serious social problem in our country and around the world. Beyond hyperglycemia, it causes common and potentially life-threatening complications in all systems. For this reason, beyond the regulation of blood glucose, a holistic approach and combating complications are important in diabetes management. Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2-i) are one of many antidiabetic drug families and stand out with their strong blood sugar regulation and cardiac and renal protective effects independent of blood sugar decrease. Despite its strong effectiveness, it is seen as risky in terms of diabetic ketosis and infection, which limits its use. We aimed to investigate the legitimacy of concerns by examining the relationship between SGLT-2 inhibitors and diabetic ketosis/infection. Methods: Our study was designed single-center and retrospectively. 152 patients over the age of 18 who were treated as inpatients in our clinic with diabetic ketosis between January 2020 and June 2023 were included in the study. In these patients, ketosis and the severity of the infection clinic, if any, were examined through various parameters among Type 2 diabetic patients using SGLT-2 inhibitors, Type 2 diabetic patients not using SGLT-2 inhibitors, and Type 1 diabetes patients. These parameters were determined by the patient's blood and urine biochemistry tests at admission and discharge, the duration of ketosis treatment, the duration of intravenous antibiotic use, and the duration of hospitalization. Results: Within the scope of the study, type 2 diabetic patients using SGLT-2 inhibitors were compared with type 2 diabetic patients not using SGLT-2 inhibitors and type 1 diabetic patients. In patients using SGLT-2 inhibitors, the leukocyte in urine, an indicator of urinary tract infection, was found to be significantly higher (p<0.002). When the blood biochemistry tests of the patients at the time of admission were compared in terms of ketosis severity, no significant difference was detected between the groups. No significant difference was detected in terms of ketosis treatment duration, intravenous antibiotic use duration, and hospitalization duration. Conclusion: We believe that we have obtained data showing that ketoacidosis and infection complications associated with SGLT-2 inhibitors are manageable and controllable. Based on this, we recommend that further research be conducted on the side effects of SGLT-2 inhibitors, emphasizing their additional systemic benefits, and that the place of these agents in diabetic treatment should be discussed.