People with type 2 diabetes face a higher chance of developing serious health issues like heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, and kidney disease. Managing these risks is just as important as controlling blood sugar levels, but it can be a challenge.
Researchers at Monash University, along with other experts, have found that a type of medication called sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) can lower the risk of heart and kidney disease in people with type 2 diabetes. This discovery could provide a cost-effective way to improve health outcomes for millions of individuals living with this condition.
SGLT2 inhibitors are already widely used to help lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. However, this study focused on whether these medications also provide good value for money when considering their additional benefits for heart and kidney health.
The results suggest they do. The researchers found that SGLT2is are cost-effective for all people with type 2 diabetes, whether or not they struggle to control their blood sugar levels.
Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong condition that happens when the body can’t use insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone that helps control blood sugar levels. If the body becomes resistant to insulin, blood sugar levels stay too high, which can damage blood vessels and organs over time.
One of the organs most affected by high blood sugar levels is the kidney. The kidneys act as filters, removing waste from the blood and keeping the body’s fluid levels balanced. But when blood sugar levels remain elevated for too long, the small blood vessels in the kidneys can become damaged.
This condition, called diabetic nephropathy, is one of the leading causes of kidney disease in people with type 2 diabetes. If it progresses, it can result in end-stage kidney disease, where the kidneys can no longer function, requiring dialysis or a transplant.
Heart problems are also a common complication of type 2 diabetes. High blood sugar can damage the heart’s blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure.
Preventing these complications requires more than just managing blood sugar—it involves addressing other factors like high blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Clinical guidelines for treating type 2 diabetes were updated in 2019 to recognize the heart and kidney benefits of SGLT2 inhibitors. The new study, led by Jedidiah Morton and published in Diabetologia, adds further support for these medications by showing that they are not only effective but also cost-efficient.
This finding could influence how the government funds and prescribes diabetes treatments through programs like Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). While SGLT2is show great promise, the government must also consider other health priorities when deciding how to allocate resources.
In Australia, almost 1.9 million people have diabetes, with an estimated 500,000 unaware they have type 2 diabetes. Given the high number of people affected, finding affordable and effective treatments is critical.
The study’s results offer hope. By reducing the risk of heart and kidney disease, SGLT2 inhibitors may help people with type 2 diabetes live longer, healthier lives. These medications could become an essential part of diabetes care, alongside lifestyle changes like eating well, exercising, and regularly visiting healthcare providers.
For those interested in natural ways to support their health, studies suggest that foods like olive oil and honey may help manage cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Similarly, drinking coffee might reduce the risk of kidney injury.
Research like this brings us closer to improving the lives of millions living with diabetes, showing the importance of innovation in healthcare.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about Vitamin D and type 2 diabetes, and to people with diabetes, some fruits are better than others.
For more health information, please see recent studies that low calorie diets may help reverse diabetes, and 5 vitamins that may prevent complication in diabetes.
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