A type of diabetes medication that may soon be used more widely in England could save thousands of lives each year, according to a new study led by researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and University College London.
The research suggests that for every 47 people with type 2 diabetes who are prescribed a drug known as an SGLT-2 inhibitor, one life could be saved over a three-year period.
With around three million people in the United Kingdom currently receiving treatment for type 2 diabetes, this could translate to roughly 20,000 fewer deaths each year if the drug is used more broadly.
The findings come at an important time.
In August 2025, the U.K.’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence proposed that SGLT-2 inhibitors should be offered alongside metformin as a first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes.
Final guidance is expected in February 2026. At present, metformin alone is usually prescribed first, and SGLT-2 inhibitors are typically added only for people with additional risks such as heart disease or heart failure.
SGLT-2 inhibitors work by helping the body remove excess sugar through urine, lowering blood sugar levels. Clinical trials have already shown that these drugs protect the heart and kidneys and reduce the risk of death from heart attacks and strokes.
However, those trials mainly involved carefully selected patients who met strict criteria. It was unclear whether the same benefits would apply to a wider, more typical population of people living with type 2 diabetes.
To answer this question, the new study used anonymized GP health records from more than 60,000 people in the U.K. between 2014 and 2022. Researchers compared patients who were prescribed empagliflozin, an SGLT-2 inhibitor, with those who received another commonly used diabetes medication called a DPP-4 inhibitor.
Using a method known as “trial emulation,” which applies principles of clinical trial design to real-world data, the team aimed to reduce bias and make the comparison as fair as possible. The results showed that people taking the SGLT-2 inhibitor were 24% less likely to die prematurely over an average follow-up of three years compared to those taking the alternative drug.
Researchers say this study highlights the power of electronic health records in improving patient care. By analyzing real-world data safely and carefully, scientists can confirm whether treatments shown to work in controlled trials are also effective in everyday clinical practice.
If the updated guidelines are approved, the use of SGLT-2 inhibitors as a first treatment alongside metformin would mark a major shift in diabetes care. For millions of people living with type 2 diabetes, it could mean not only better blood sugar control but also a longer life.
