A widely used diabetes medication may provide additional health benefits for older adults, according to a large-scale study led by the University of Glasgow. The research, published in JAMA, analyzed data from over 300,000 patients and found that a class of diabetes drugs called SGLT2 inhibitors was linked to a lower risk of heart attacks and strokes in older adults.
This finding is especially interesting because the same drug was less effective at lowering blood sugar levels in older adults compared to younger ones. This suggests that when prescribing diabetes medication, doctors may need to consider not just blood sugar control, but also broader health benefits.
Study Findings and Their Importance
The study reviewed more than 600 clinical trials from around the world, making it the largest analysis of how newer diabetes treatments affect different age groups. The key findings include:
- Older adults taking SGLT2 inhibitors had a lower risk of heart attacks and strokes than younger patients.
- The drug was less effective in lowering blood sugar for older patients, but still provided cardiovascular benefits.
- No major differences were found in the drug’s effectiveness between men and women.
These insights could be especially important for older adults, as nearly half of all people with type 2 diabetes are over 65. Additionally, older individuals with diabetes are at a greater risk of developing complications such as heart disease and strokes.
A Shift in Diabetes Treatment Guidelines?
For years, the primary goal of diabetes treatment has been to reduce blood sugar levels. Current clinical guidelines do not recommend different medications based on age, but this study suggests that might need to change.
Since SGLT2 inhibitors offer significant heart benefits, doctors may need to take a more personalized approach when treating older patients. Instead of focusing only on blood sugar control, prescribing decisions could also consider cardiovascular protection, which is crucial for older adults with diabetes.
Expert Opinions
Dr. Peter Hanlon, one of the study’s authors, emphasized the importance of balancing risks and benefits when choosing treatments for older adults.
“Deciding on the best treatments for older people always requires careful balancing of risks and benefits,” he said. “Our findings that older people experienced greater benefits from these drugs, in terms of reduced heart attacks and strokes, is very encouraging.”
He also stressed that age alone should not be a barrier to receiving medications that offer proven benefits. As long as patients can tolerate the treatment and it aligns with their health priorities, these drugs could provide significant protection against life-threatening conditions.
Looking Ahead
This study highlights the need for a broader perspective when prescribing diabetes medication, particularly for older adults. While controlling blood sugar remains important, the potential heart-protective effects of certain medications should not be overlooked.
As diabetes treatment continues to evolve, findings like these could help shape future medical guidelines and improve patient care.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about high vitamin D level linked to lower dementia risk in type 2 diabetes, and this eating habit could help reduce risk of type 2 diabetes.
For more information about nutrition, please see recent studies about unhealthy plant-based diets linked to metabolic syndrome, and results showing Mediterranean diet could help reduce the diabetes risk by 30%.
The research findings can be found in JAMA.
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