Increased dose of Empagliflozin may improve Glycemic control in T2 Diabetes patients

Researchers have found in a recent study that increasing the dose of Empagliflozin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes significantly improved certain parameters like body weight, body mass index, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, Triglycerides, fasting plasma glucose, and HbA1c while increasing hematocrit levels. The study was published in the journal, 'Diabetes Therapy, 2022.' 

In T2 Diabetes sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors improve the blood glucose levels by inhibiting the reabsorption of glucose from the kidneys and thus increasing urinary glucose excretion. Though the SGLT2 inhibitors show a dose-dependent effect, there is not much research on the benefits of increasing the dose of SGLT2 inhibitors in clinical use. So, researchers from Japan conducted a study to explore the effect of an increased dose of the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin in T2DM. 

52 patients with T2DM with inadequate glycemic control participated in the study. The dose of empagliflozin was increased to 25 mg from 10 mg once a day and the alterations in the glycemic control and other parameters were analyzed. 

Results: 

Significant improvement in glycemic control was seen with an increased dose of empagliflozin.

Parameters like body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), triglyceride (TG), and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) were significantly decreased and hematocrit (Hct) was increased.

Baseline diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and baseline TG were retained as independent predictors for the improvement of HbA1c levels as per the Multivariate logistic regression analyses. 

Multivariate stepwise regression analyses revealed that changes in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and HbA1c were retained as independent predictors for changes in BMI. 

Thus, the researchers concluded that significant amelioration of BW, BMI, GGT, TG, fasting plasma glucose, and HbA1c were achieved with an increased dosage of empagliflozin along with increased Hct in patients with T2DM. Furthermore, baseline DBP and TG were independent predictors for the improvement of HbA1c. They also added that these findings suggest altering the dosage of the drug in inadequately controlled T2 diabetics. 

To read the full article, click here: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13300-022-01296-y 

Matsumura T, Makabe T, Ueda S, et al. Clinical Benefit of Switching from Low-Dose to High-Dose Empagliflozin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes [published online ahead of print, 2022 Jul 15]. Diabetes Ther. 2022;10.1007/s13300-022-01296-y.