Scientists from the University of Hong Kong have discovered that a newer type of diabetes drug called SGLT2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) may do more than just lower blood sugar—it might also protect the kidneys and lungs.
This exciting finding gives hope to people with type 2 diabetes, a condition that can lead to serious complications over time.
The study looked at a large group of patients in Hong Kong—more than 30,000 people with type 2 diabetes. Researchers compared two kinds of diabetes medications: the newer SGLT2i drugs and the older DPP4 inhibitors (DPP4i). While both are used to manage blood sugar levels, the newer SGLT2i drugs may offer more health benefits.
SGLT2i medications help lower blood sugar by removing excess glucose through the urine. In recent years, they’ve also been found to protect the heart and kidneys. But scientists weren’t sure how they compared to older drugs like DPP4i when it came to protecting against kidney and lung problems.
The results of this study were very promising. People who took SGLT2i had a lower risk of developing serious kidney conditions, including end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
That’s a condition where the kidneys stop working completely and patients may need dialysis or a transplant. These findings are important because kidney disease is a common complication for people with diabetes.
But that’s not all. The study also showed that people taking SGLT2i had a lower risk of several lung problems, such as obstructive airway disease (OAD) and pneumonia. This was the first time researchers found such a clear connection between these drugs and better lung health in people with diabetes.
Because this study used real-world patient data, it adds strong evidence that SGLT2i may be a better choice than DPP4i for long-term health. Still, the researchers say that more clinical trials should be done to confirm the lung benefits.
The research was led by Dr. Cheung Ching-lung and was published in *The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism* and *JAMA Network Open*. It adds to growing research showing that newer diabetes medications may help prevent more than just high blood sugar.
If you’re worried about kidney health, other studies have also found that certain drugs can help prevent kidney failure in diabetes patients. Even something as simple as drinking coffee might lower the risk of kidney injury. And in a surprising twist, some research has found that Viagra may help treat certain lung diseases.
In conclusion, this new study shows that SGLT2i drugs might offer extra protection for both kidneys and lungs in people with type 2 diabetes. These benefits could lead to better health outcomes and an improved quality of life. As more studies are done, doctors may begin to recommend SGLT2i more often for long-term care.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about New diabetes drug could control blood sugar and body weight better and findings of Common diabetes drugs linked to increased heart risk.
For more information about diabetes, please read studies about Why diabetes drug metformin can help increase longevity and findings of This drug could manage type 2 diabetes for a long time.
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