The FDA announced a warning against certain type-2 diabetes medications over the adverse effects patients may experience.

This particular group of diabetes medications, a popular group of drugs dubbed the “darlings of diabetic treatment drugs,” has been allegedly causing patients to suffer life-threatening side effects, which permanently alter their condition.

On May 15, the FDA stated that this drug class, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, increases the risk of kidney failure and ketoacidosis. The condition of ketoacidosis occurs when the acidity levels in the blood is too high, causing problems with insulin production.

Experts believe that these side effects may be occurring due to the drugs’ treatment mechanism, making the FDA reevaluate the drugs’ warning labels and possibly update them to include kidney problems.

When SGLT2 inhibitors were first introduced into the United States in March 2013, it was considered a unique and innovative way to lower blood-sugar in type-2 diabetes patients.

Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 is a protein in the body, which signals the kidney to reabsorb sugar to lower blood-glucose. The excess sugar is then drained from the body through urination, streamlining the process of balancing sugar and insulin levels for the body.

Additionally, SGLT2 drugs also help manage weight and calories as patients shed an additional 300 calories through urinating the extra sugar.

Overview of Diabetes Medications Complications

Along with diet and exercise, these diabetes medications would ideally allow patients to live a relatively normal lifestyle. Unfortunately, this has not been the case for numerous patients as they have suffered permanent side effects not mentioned on the drugs’ warning labels.

As mentioned before, ketoacidosis occurs when blood acids called ketones rise to a dangerous level. This can cause problems in the body’s insulin production, which can lead to fainting spells and diabetic attacks. Patients suffering from ketoacidosis could suffer a heart attack, kidney failure, or death.

Doctors warn that early symptoms of ketoacidosis include severe vomiting, constant thirst, stiff muscles, fatigue, and mental fog. Patients often have difficulty breathing, can double over from abdominal pain, and often feel confused.

Currently, it is not known how widespread the problem is, but the FDA has already identified 20 cases of diabetic ketoacidosis from March 2013 to June 2014, each of which required hospitalization. Each of the patients had been prescribed a SGLT2 inhibitor when they suffered this condition.

As of now, the FDA stated that it will continue to investigate the potential safety issue of these drugs, and will implement warnings when needed. Unfortunately, this does not help the numerous patients who are already suffering from ketoacidosis.

A number of former SGLT2 inhibitor patients are considering filing legal action against the drug manufacturers for failing to protect the against the adverse effects of their products. The SGLT2 inhibitor drugs indicated to cause ketoacidosis or kidney failure include:

• Invokana (Canagliflozin)
• Invokamet (Canagliflozin and Metformin)
• Farxiga (Dapagliflozin)
• Xigduo XR (Dapagliflozin and Metformin extended-release)
• Jardiance (Empagliflozin)
• Glyxambi (Empagliflozin and Linagliptin)