Diabetes and heart health are closely connected.
People with diabetes have a higher risk of heart failure, a condition where the heart struggles to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs.
Managing diabetes carefully can reduce this risk, and the medications used to treat diabetes can also affect heart health.
Some drugs help the heart, while others might make things worse. Let’s take a closer look at what research says about this important topic.
Heart failure can develop in people with diabetes because high blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels and the heart over time.
High blood pressure and obesity, which are common in diabetes, also put extra strain on the heart. This is why doctors often pay close attention to the effects of diabetes drugs on heart health when prescribing treatments.
One group of diabetes medications, called SGLT2 inhibitors, has shown promising results for heart failure. These drugs, including empagliflozin (Jardiance) and dapagliflozin (Farxiga), help the body remove excess sugar through urine.
Research published in the journal The Lancet found that SGLT2 inhibitors can reduce the risk of hospitalization for heart failure in people with diabetes.
These drugs also lower blood pressure and promote weight loss, which are added benefits for heart health. In fact, some doctors now prescribe SGLT2 inhibitors specifically to help people with heart failure, even if they don’t have diabetes.
Another group of medications, called GLP-1 receptor agonists, also has positive effects on the heart. Drugs like liraglutide (Victoza) and semaglutide (Ozempic) mimic a natural hormone that helps control blood sugar levels.
These medications have been shown to reduce the risk of major heart problems, such as heart attacks and strokes. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that people taking liraglutide had a lower chance of developing heart failure compared to those not using the drug.
However, not all diabetes drugs are heart-friendly. Some older medications, like certain sulfonylureas and high doses of insulin, can increase the risk of heart failure.
Sulfonylureas, which stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin, may lead to weight gain and low blood sugar levels, both of which can strain the heart.
A study in the journal Diabetes Carereported that people using sulfonylureas had a higher rate of heart failure hospitalizations compared to those on newer medications.
Thiazolidinediones (TZDs), another class of diabetes drugs, have also been linked to heart failure in some cases. These medications, including pioglitazone (Actos), help the body use insulin more effectively but can cause fluid retention.
This extra fluid can put additional stress on the heart, especially in people who already have heart failure. Because of this risk, doctors are cautious about prescribing TZDs to patients with a history of heart problems.
It’s important to remember that the effects of diabetes drugs can vary from person to person.
What works well for one person might not be the best choice for someone else, especially if they have other health conditions like heart disease. This is why doctors consider the whole picture when choosing a treatment plan for diabetes.
In summary, some diabetes drugs, like SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists, can help protect the heart and reduce the risk of heart failure. Others, like sulfonylureas and TZDs, may increase the risk in certain situations.
If you have diabetes and are concerned about your heart health, talk to your doctor about the best treatment options for you. Managing your blood sugar levels carefully and choosing the right medications can go a long way in protecting both your heart and your overall health.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about bananas and diabetes, and honey could help control blood sugar.
For more health information, please see recent studies about Vitamin D that may reduce dangerous complications in diabetes and results showing plant-based protein foods may help reverse type 2 diabetes.
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