A recent study from the University of Hong Kong has found that a newer type of diabetes medicine may do more than just control blood sugar. The drug, called sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (or SGLT2i for short), could also help protect the kidneys and lungs in people with type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is a common long-term illness that affects how the body handles sugar. If not treated properly, it can lead to serious problems, especially in the heart, kidneys, and lungs. While there are many medicines that help lower blood sugar, not all of them offer extra health benefits beyond that.
In this study, researchers wanted to know whether SGLT2i could be a better option than an older type of diabetes drug known as dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i). Both drugs are used after first-line treatments like metformin don’t work well enough. But newer research has suggested that SGLT2i may provide more protection for the heart and kidneys.
To find out more, the team looked at health records from over 30,000 people with type 2 diabetes in Hong Kong. They compared those who were taking SGLT2i with those using DPP4i. The researchers focused on how these drugs affected the kidneys and lungs—two organs that are often harmed in people with diabetes.
The results were promising. People taking SGLT2i had a much lower risk of developing serious kidney problems, including end-stage renal disease (ESRD), which is when the kidneys stop working completely. These findings matched those from earlier studies and gave real-world proof that SGLT2i may be more effective than DPP4i at protecting the kidneys.
But the most surprising discovery was that SGLT2i also seemed to lower the risk of certain lung diseases. These included obstructive airway disease (OAD), a condition that makes it hard to breathe, and pneumonia, a serious lung infection.
The link between SGLT2i and better lung health is new, and the scientists say more studies are needed to understand it. They hope future clinical trials will explore how this drug affects respiratory health more deeply.
Overall, the findings suggest that SGLT2i could be a better choice than DPP4i for many people with type 2 diabetes—not just for managing blood sugar, but also for protecting the kidneys and possibly the lungs. This is important because people with diabetes often face multiple health challenges at once.
The study was led by Dr. Cheung Ching-lung and published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism and JAMA Network Open. It adds to growing evidence that newer diabetes medications can offer broader health benefits beyond just blood sugar control.
If you’re concerned about kidney health, it’s worth noting that other studies have also shown that certain drugs may help prevent kidney failure in people with diabetes. Even everyday choices, like drinking coffee, may reduce the risk of kidney problems. As always, it’s best to speak with your doctor before making any changes to your treatment plan.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about high vitamin D level linked to lower dementia risk in diabetes, and green tea could help reduce death risk in diabetes.
For more information about nutrition, please see recent studies that blueberries strongly benefit people with metabolic syndrome, and results showing vitamin D could improve blood pressure in people with diabetes.
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