According to a warning issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) earlier this year, a class of type-2 diabetes medications including the drug Steglatro may be linked to necrotizing fasciitis, a serious and rare bacterial infection also known as Fournier’s gangrene. Use of the family of medications implicated in the warning, known as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, or SGLT2 inhibitors, may increase patient’s risk of contracting the condition.

The warning released by the FDA states that twelve cases of Fournier’s gangrene in relation to SGLT2 inhibitors were reported between March 2013 and May 2018. All twelve cases resulted in hospitalization and required surgeries. Several patients were left permanently disfigured as a result of their infections, and one patient died due to the severity of their condition with regard to necrotizing fasciitis symptoms. 

What is Necrotizing Fasciitis?

Necrotizing fasciitis is a dangerous bacterial infection that can spread quickly throughout the body, infecting and destroying healthy tissue. Bacteria enter the body through a cut on the skin before spreading to other areas. The particular type of necrotizing fasciitis that has been linked to Steglatro and other SGLT2 inhibitors is called Fournier’s gangrene. Fournier’s gangrene is a bacterial infection located in the perineum or the area from the genitals to the rectum.

Necrotizing Fasciitis Symptoms

Fournier’s gangrene and necrotizing fasciitis symptoms include tenderness, redness, and swelling of the genitals, as well as a high fever and a general feeling of unwellness or malaise. If you believe you may be experiencing necrotizing fasciitis symptoms, the FDA recommends contacting a doctor right away, as the infection can spread very quickly and cause extreme damage.

Treatment for necrotizing fasciitis includes debridement or the removal of dead and infected tissue. It may also include antibiotics, surgery, and skin grafts, depending on the extent of the damage caused by the infection.

About Steglatro

Steglatro is an SGLT2 inhibitor approved by the FDA for use in managing type-2 diabetes. It works by lowering blood sugar in patients. It does this through stimulating the kidneys to filter and remove the sugar through urine. As the urine has a high sugar content, patients taking SLGT2 inhibitors are at an increased risk for genital yeast infections. The high sugar content may also play a role in attracting bacteria to the genital area during cases of necrotizing fasciitis.

Steglatro Side Effects

The prescribing information sheet for Steglatro lists several possible side effects including necrotizing fasciitis. Other Steglatro side effects may include:

• Ketoacidosis, or increased ketones in your urine or blood. Sudden kidney injury. Serious urinary tract infections. Symptoms may include a burning feeling during urination, a need to urinate frequently or urgently, pelvic pain, or blood with urination.
• The need for limb or digit amputation, most commonly of toes.
• Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. Symptoms may include dizziness, headache, weakness, feeling jittery or irritated, or increased sweating.
• Genital yeast infections.

If you have experienced necrotizing fasciitis symptoms or other Steglatro side effects after being prescribed Steglatro for type-2 diabetes management, you may qualify to join a free investigation.

Join a Free Diabetes Medications & Flesh-Eating Infection Lawsuit Investigation

The type-2 diabetes medications linked to the flesh-eating infection include:

• Invokana
• Invokamet/Invokamet XR
• Farxiga
• Xigduo XR
• Qtern
• Jardiance
• Glyxambi
• Synjardy/Synjardy XR
• Steglato
• Segluromet
• Steglujan

If you or a loved one took one of the type-2 diabetes medications listed above and suffered from a flesh-eating genital infection, you may qualify to join this diabetes medication lawsuit investigation. Fill out the FREE form on this page for more information.

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