Managing diabetes by enhancing glucose excretion is indeed a novel approach. Over time, as this medication class matures we will be able to decide a more precise role for it in the management of patients with diabetes. However, one could speculate how a medication like this could be quite helpful in the management of diabetes. Firstly, it causes caloric loss in the urine which leads to not only improved blood sugar but also could theoretically lead to modest weight loss. As well, inhibition of the sodium glucose co-transporter could lead to a modest sodium loss in the urine which in preliminary studies might be associated with blood pressure reduction. Studies are currently underway to confirm whether or not blood pressure reduction is a reliable finding with this medication. If so, the combination of caloric loss, blood sugar control and blood pressure reduction could make this a very attractive compound indeed. Finally, this medication class is unlikely to cause hypoglycemia.
Of course, we would need to see further data to support some of these claims in a large number of patients, but the preliminary data on these compounds is indeed quite promising.
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