A recent study indicates that type-2 diabetes patients taking certain medications to treat blood sugar levels may be at an increased risk for developing heart failure.

Researchers analyzed the clinical trials of more than 95,000 diabetic patients and determined that those taking a diabetes medication  had an overall increased risk for heart failure by 14 percent compared to those taking a placebo.

For the diabetes medication study, researchers found multiple published studies involving type-2 diabetes medication in order to assess heart failure risks. By collecting and analyzing the data from 14 different studies, investigators were able to calculate cardiovascular risks in relation to each type-2 diabetes medications.

Diabetes Medication and Heart Failure

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart failure costs the U.S. $32 billion annually if medical services, missed work and medications are calculated.

Heart failure occurs when the heart does not pump enough blood around the body at the right pressure which is a common medical side effect of type-2 diabetic patients.

Heart failure symptoms include:

• Rapid weight gain
• Swelling of the abdomen or legs
• Dyspnea (difficulty breathing or painful breathing)
• Edema (fluid retention)
• Fatigue

While the medical condition is very serious, it does not mean the heart has stopped working. Researchers found that while the risk of heart failure increases in patients taking a diabetes medication the overall risk for heart attacks decreases by five-percent.

About 5 million people in the U.S. experience heart failure while more than 20 million Americans have been diagnosed with type-2 diabetes and are prescribed diabetes medications to treat the condition.

Type-2 Diabetes Medication Faces Scrutiny

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced a warning to diabetic patients and the medical community at large about the increased risk of several other complications associated with type-2 diabetes medications referred to as SGLT2 inhibitors.

According to the FDA, sodium­glucose cotransporter­2 (SGLT2) inhibitors may be linked to an increased risk of kidney failure, ketoacidosis, bone fractures as well as heart attacks. The federal agency is currently investigating whether warning label changes need to be made for the following diabetes medications:

• Invokana (canagliflozin)
• Jardiance (empagliflozin)
• Invokamet (canagliflozin and metformin)
• Farxiga (dapagliflozin)
• Xigduo XR (dapagliflozin and metformin extended-release)
• Glyxambi (empagliflozin and linagliptin)

These diabetes medications combined with diet and exercise are intended to lower blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. SGLT2 inhibitors effectively cause kidneys to remove sugar from the body by secreting it in the urine.

However, some of the diabetes medication side effects are serious enough they require hospitalization or emergency room visits.

Diabetes Medication Lawsuits

Personal injury lawyers are seeking potential plaintiffs who have experienced severe diabetes medication complications including heart failure, kidney disease or bone fractures to file diabetes medication lawsuits.

In general, diabetes medication attorneys allege that type 2 diabetes patients were not adequately warned of the risk of heart disease before they began taking the medication. Contact a personal injury attorney to find out if you have legal claim.