Type 2 diabetes is one of the fastest-growing long-term health conditions in the world. Millions of people live with the disease, and the number continues to rise each year.
Although many people think diabetes is mainly about high blood sugar, the condition affects much more than that.
Over time, high blood sugar can damage blood vessels and many important organs throughout the body. This is why people with type 2 diabetes have a much higher risk of heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, kidney disease, vision loss, and nerve damage.
Because of these serious complications, doctors are always looking for better ways to treat diabetes. In recent years, researchers have discovered that some diabetes medicines do much more than simply lower blood sugar.
They can also protect the heart and kidneys, two organs that are commonly damaged by diabetes.
A new study led by Jedidiah Morton from Monash University and researchers from several other institutions provides more encouraging evidence for one of these medicines.
The study found that a group of drugs called sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors, or SGLT2 inhibitors, can reduce the risk of heart and kidney disease in people with type 2 diabetes while also providing good value for healthcare systems.
SGLT2 inhibitors work by helping the kidneys remove extra sugar from the body through urine. This lowers blood sugar levels without relying entirely on insulin. Over the past several years, large clinical trials have shown that these medicines also lower the risk of heart failure, slow the progression of kidney disease, and reduce the chances of serious cardiovascular problems.
The new research asked an important question. Even if the heart and kidney benefits are considered on their own, are these medicines worth the cost of providing them to more people with type 2 diabetes? This question is important because governments and health insurance programs must decide which medicines they can afford to subsidize.
The researchers found that SGLT2 inhibitors are not only effective at preventing heart and kidney disease but are also cost-effective for people with type 2 diabetes.
In other words, the health benefits gained from preventing serious complications appear to justify the cost of making these medicines more widely available. This is the first study to specifically evaluate the economic value of these medicines based on their heart and kidney protection alone rather than focusing mainly on blood sugar control.
The findings could have important implications for healthcare policy. Since 2019, clinical guidelines have recognised that SGLT2 inhibitors provide protection for both the heart and kidneys. However, many patients who could benefit from these medicines still do not receive them. The new study suggests that expanding access could improve health outcomes while making efficient use of healthcare resources.
The need for better treatment is particularly important because diabetes places enormous pressure on the heart and kidneys. High blood sugar can gradually damage the tiny blood vessels inside the kidneys, reducing their ability to remove waste and excess fluid from the body. This condition, known as diabetic kidney disease, is one of the leading causes of kidney failure worldwide. In severe cases, patients may require lifelong dialysis or a kidney transplant.
The heart is also affected. Diabetes increases the risk of high blood pressure, narrowing of the arteries, heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure. Many people with type 2 diabetes eventually develop cardiovascular disease, which remains the leading cause of death among people living with diabetes.
In Australia, Diabetes Australia estimates that nearly 1.9 million people have diabetes, including around 500,000 people with type 2 diabetes who have not yet been diagnosed. Many of these individuals may already be developing complications without knowing it. Early diagnosis, regular health checks, healthy lifestyle habits, and appropriate medications are all important for reducing these risks.
Although the study provides strong support for wider use of SGLT2 inhibitors, treatment decisions should still be made between patients and their healthcare providers. Not every medicine is suitable for every individual, and doctors consider many factors, including kidney function, other medical conditions, possible side effects, and current medications before choosing the best treatment.
The study was published in the journal Diabetologia. The findings add to growing evidence that diabetes treatment should focus not only on lowering blood sugar but also on protecting the organs most vulnerable to long-term damage.
As research continues, medicines such as SGLT2 inhibitors may play an even greater role in helping people with type 2 diabetes live longer, healthier lives while reducing the burden of heart and kidney disease.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about 5 vitamins that may prevent complication in diabetes, and how to manage high blood pressure and diabetes with healthy foods.
For more health information, please see recent studies about vitamin D and type2 diabetes, and to people with type 2 diabetes, some fruits are better than others.
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