SGLT2 inhibitors are medications designed to help manage blood sugar in people living with type 2 diabetes. Learn more about the different types, as well as the benefits and side effects.
Sodium-glucose transport protein 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a class of medications used to treat type 2 diabetes. They’re also known as gliflozins.
SGLT2 inhibitors prevent the reabsorption of glucose from blood that’s filtered through your kidneys, which help glucose leave through your urine. This helps to lower your blood sugar levels.
Read on to learn more about the different types of SGLT2 inhibitors, as well as the potential benefits and risks of adding this type of medication to your treatment plan.
To date, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved
Canagliflozin (Invokana)
Canagliflozin Invokana can help do the following in adults with type 2 diabetes:
- improve management of blood sugar
- reduce the risk of severe cardiovascular complications in adults with both type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease
- lower the risk of kidney disease, cardiovascular death, and hospitalization for heart failure in adults with both type 2 diabetes and diabetic nephropathy
Dapagliflozin (Farxiga)
Dapagliflozin is indicated for both type 2 diabetes and heart failure. It can do the following:
- improve management of blood sugar and reduce the risk of hospitalization for heart failure in adults with both type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease
- reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization in adults with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
- reduce the risk of further worsening of kidney disease and slow the progression toward end-stage kidney disease
Empagliflozin (Jardiance)
Empagliflozin can be used to help achieve the following in adults with type 2 diabetes:
- improve management of blood sugar
- reduce the risk of cardiovascular death in adults with both type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease
Ertugliflozin (Steglatro)
Ertugliflozin can be used in adults with type 2 diabetes to improve management of blood sugar.
If you have type 2 diabetes, it’s possible that you may be prescribed an SGLT2 inhibitor along with another diabetes medication like metformin.
Comparing SGLT2 inhibitors
| SGLT2 inhibitor | FDA approval | Indications | Dose |
| Invokana (canagliflozin) | 2013 | Type 2 diabetes | |
| Farxiga (dapagliflozin) | 2014 | Type 2 diabetes Heart failure | Type 2 diabetes: 5 – 10 mg daily Heart failure: 10 mg daily |
| Jardiance (empagliflozin) | 2014 | Type 2 diabetes | 10 – 25 mg daily |
| Steglatro (ertugliflozin) | 2017 | Type 2 diabetes | 5 – 15 mg daily |
SGLT2 inhibitors are generally considered safe. But in some cases, they can cause side effects.
For example, taking this type of medication
- urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- yeast infections
- nausea
- constipation
- increased urination
In rare cases, more serious side effects can occur when taking SGLT2 inhibitors:
- A serious type of genital infection has been reported in people who take SGLT2 inhibitors. This type of infection is known as necrotizing fasciitis or Fournier’s gangrene.
- Some research also suggests that canagliflozin might increase the risk of bone fractures. These adverse effects haven’t been linked to other SGLT2 inhibitors.
- In some individuals, it’s possible to experience kidney injury or reduced kidney function when taking SGLT2 inhibitors.
A doctor can let you know more about the potential risks of taking SGLT2 inhibitors. They can also help you learn how to recognize and manage any possible side effects.
If you think you might be experiencing side effects from medication, you should speak with a doctor right away.
When taken alone or with other diabetes medications, SGLT2 inhibitors can help lower your blood sugar levels. This reduces your chances of developing complications from type 2 diabetes.
A 2024 study found that they may also promote weight loss and modest improvements in your blood pressure.
Keep in mind, the potential benefits of SGLT2 inhibitors vary from one person to another, depending on their medical history. To learn more about this type of medication, and whether it’s a good fit for your treatment plan, consider talking with a doctor.
SGLT2 inhibitors are oral medications. They’re available in pill form. If a doctor adds an SGLT2 inhibitor to your treatment plan, they’ll typically advise you to take it
In some cases, a doctor might prescribe an SGLT2 inhibitor along with other diabetes medications. For example, this class of medication may be combined with metformin.
A combination of diabetes medications can help you keep your blood sugar level within target range. It’s important to take the proper dose of each medication to stop your blood sugar level from dropping too low.
Whenever you add a new medication to your treatment plan, it’s important to consider how it might interact with medications you already take.
If you take other diabetes medications to manage your blood sugar levels, adding an SGLT2 inhibitor increases your risk of developing low blood sugar.
In addition, if you’re taking certain types of diuretics, SGLT2 inhibitors can increase their effect, causing you to urinate more often. This can raise your risk of dehydration and low blood pressure.
Before you start taking a new medication or supplement, it’s important to discuss with a doctor whether it could interact with anything in your existing treatment plan. In some cases, a doctor might make changes to your prescribed treatment to lower your risk of negative drug interactions.
SGLT2 inhibitors are designed to help manage blood sugar in people living with type 2 diabetes.
In addition to reducing blood sugar levels, this class of medication has been found to have benefits for heart failure, other cardiovascular conditions, and kidney disease.
Although they’re generally considered safe, SGLT2 inhibitors sometimes cause side effects or negative interactions with certain drugs. A doctor can tell you more about the potential benefits and risks of adding this type of medication to your treatment plan.