A drug originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes may also help lower blood pressure, according to a study presented at a major medical conference in Chicago.
The medicine, called empagliflozin, not only improved blood sugar control in people with diabetes, but also reduced blood pressure in patients who had both diabetes and hypertension.
The findings attracted attention because people with type 2 diabetes are much more likely to develop heart disease, strokes, kidney problems, and other serious health conditions. High blood pressure is especially common among people with diabetes, and when both conditions occur together, the risk of long-term health problems becomes even greater.
Doctors have long known that keeping blood pressure under control is one of the most important ways to protect people with diabetes from heart attacks, strokes, and early death. Because of this, researchers are very interested in treatments that can improve both blood sugar and blood pressure at the same time.
The study involved 824 adults with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Researchers tested two doses of empagliflozin, 10 milligrams and 25 milligrams, and compared them with a placebo, which is a pill without active medicine. The treatment lasted for 12 weeks.
Before the study began, participants had their blood pressure monitored over a full 24-hour period using special devices.
Researchers repeated these measurements after the treatment period to see how the drug affected blood pressure throughout the day and night. Blood tests were also taken to measure HbA1c levels, which show average blood sugar control over the previous few months.
The results showed that empagliflozin improved both blood sugar and blood pressure. The stronger 25 mg dose produced the biggest changes.
On average, participants taking this dose saw their systolic blood pressure, which is the top number in a blood pressure reading, drop by 4.2 mm Hg compared with the placebo group. Their diastolic blood pressure, the lower number, dropped by 1.7 mm Hg.
The 10 mg dose also lowered blood pressure, although the effects were slightly smaller. Participants taking this lower dose had an average reduction of 3.4 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure and 1.4 mm Hg in diastolic blood pressure.
Researchers also saw improvements in blood sugar control. Participants taking 10 mg of empagliflozin experienced an average drop in HbA1c of 0.62%, while those taking 25 mg saw a reduction of 0.65%. The placebo group did not experience similar improvements.
Empagliflozin belongs to a newer group of diabetes medicines called SGLT2 inhibitors. These drugs work differently from many older diabetes treatments. Instead of increasing insulin levels, empagliflozin helps the kidneys remove extra glucose from the body through urine.
Normally, the kidneys filter glucose and then reabsorb much of it back into the bloodstream. Empagliflozin blocks this reabsorption process, allowing excess sugar to leave the body naturally.
Scientists believe this process may also help explain why blood pressure falls in people taking the drug. By removing glucose and extra fluid through urine, the medicine may slightly reduce the amount of fluid circulating in the blood vessels, which can help lower pressure inside the arteries.
Dr. Afshin Salsali, one of the researchers involved in the study, explained that controlling blood pressure is critical for people living with diabetes. He said lowering blood pressure may reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular problems over time, although more studies are still needed to confirm the long-term benefits.
The safety results were also encouraging. Researchers found that people taking empagliflozin did not experience more side effects than those taking the placebo. Most side effects reported during the study were mild, and the drug was generally well tolerated.
This was an important finding because many diabetes medications can sometimes cause difficult side effects or increase risks in other parts of the body. A treatment that improves blood sugar and blood pressure without causing major safety concerns could be very valuable for patients.
Since this early research was presented in 2014, empagliflozin has become one of the most widely studied diabetes drugs in the world.
Later studies have shown that it may also help protect the heart and kidneys in certain patients with diabetes and heart disease. Researchers continue to investigate how the drug may improve long-term health outcomes beyond blood sugar control alone.
The study highlights a growing shift in diabetes care. In the past, doctors mainly focused on lowering blood sugar. Today, researchers are paying more attention to overall health, including protecting the heart, kidneys, and blood vessels.
Lifestyle changes are still considered very important for managing diabetes and high blood pressure. Doctors usually recommend regular exercise, healthy eating, maintaining a healthy weight, reducing salt intake, avoiding smoking, and getting enough sleep.
However, medicines like empagliflozin may provide additional support for people who struggle to control both blood sugar and blood pressure.
As more research continues, drugs that target multiple health problems at once may become an important part of future treatment plans. For millions of people living with diabetes and hypertension, this could mean better protection against heart disease and a healthier quality of life.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about unhealthy habits that may increase high blood pressure risk, and drinking green tea could help lower blood pressure.
For more information about high blood pressure, please see recent studies about what to eat or to avoid for high blood pressure, and 12 foods that lower blood pressure.
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