Effects of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors on Metabolic Parameters in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Chart-Based Analysis

BACKGROUND: Effects of the new class of anti-diabetic drugs, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, on metabolic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes remain largely unknown. METHODS: We retrospectively picked up patients who had been continuously prescribed SGLT2 inhibitors for 1 month or more between April 2014 and November 2015 by a chart-based analysis, and compared the data before the SGLT2 inhibitor treatment with the data at 1, 2, 3 and 6 months after the SGLLT2 inhibitor treatment started. RESULTS: Fifty patients were eligible for the analyses in our study. The HbA1c levels as well as body weight significantly decreased at 1, 2, 3 and 6 months after the start of SGLT2 inhibitors. Systolic blood pressure tended to decrease only at 1 and 2 months, but there was no change at 3 and 6 months. No significant change was observed in serum high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and non-HDL-C levels. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels significantly decreased at 3 and 6 months after the prescription. The hematocrit levels significantly increased at 1, 2, 3 and 6 months, and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels significantly decreased at 1 month after the start of SGLT2 inhibitors. A significant correlation between reductions in HbA1c levels and HbA1c levels at baseline was observed at 1, 3 and 6 months. The decreases in serum ALT levels were also significantly correlated with the baseline ALT levels at 3 and 6 months. CONCLUSION: Present study demonstrated that SGLT2 inhibitors significantly reduced HbA1c and body weight and improved liver functions, whereas no significant change was observed in serum lipid profiles.