Empagliflozin – how effective is it in type 2 diabetes?

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness and safety of empagliflozin (Jardiance) treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Metformin (Glucophage) is typically the first treatment for type 2 diabetes when lifestyle changes fail to control blood gucose (sugar) levels. Commonly, metformin eventually fails to adequately control diabetes, so additional drugs are required. The main aim of treatment is to reduce blood glucose levels. This can be monitored by measuring HbA1c levels which indicate the average blood glucose level over the past 3 months.

Recent research has identified new glucose-lowering drugs, such as empagliflozin, which target glucose filtering by the kidneys. Unfortunately glucose-lowering treatments can produce unwanted side effects.

This study investigated the effectiveness and safety of empagliflozin treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes which was insufficiently controlled by metformin treatment.

638 patients took part in the study and were divided into treatment groups. 207 patients received treatment with a placebo (a drug with no therapeutic effect, used as a control), 217 patients were treated with 10mg empagliflozin and 214 patients were treated with 25mg empagliflozin.

Patients being treated with empagliflozin experienced a significantly larger reduction in HbA1c than patients receiving a placebo. Patients taking 10mg empagliflozin experienced a 0.7% reduction in HbA1c levels, patients taking 25mg empagliflozin experienced a 0.77% reduction and those taking placebo experienced a 0.13% reduction in HbA1c levels. 

Weight loss was also significantly higher in patients taking empagliflozin. On average, those taking a placebo lost 4.8% of body weight, while patients taking 10mg empagliflozin lost 21.2% and patients taking 25mg empagliflozin lost 23%. Blood pressure reduction was also significantly greater in patients being treated with empagliflozin, in comparison to placebo.

The level of unwanted side effects was similar in all treatment groups. Most unwanted side effects were reported to be of a mild or moderate nature and included urinary tract infections or infections of the genitalia.

The authors concluded that empagliflozin is an effective and safe treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Patients were selected from 148 centers across 12 different countries. This means that findings would most likely be consistent to the general population. However, further studies are needed to test the long-term effects of empagliflozin.

Consult your doctor if you are taking metformin and you are having difficulty managing your blood sugar levels.