Predictors for the Treatment Effect of Sodium Glucose Co-transporter 2 Inhibitors in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

INTRODUCTION: Predictors for the effect of sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors at lowering hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients remain unclear. We therefore aimed to elucidate these predictors in type 2 diabetes patients after 3 months of SGLT2 treatment. METHODS: A total of 302 consecutive type 2 diabetes patients who had been treated with SGLT2 inhibitors as monotherapy or add-on therapy to existing antidiabetic treatments were enrolled retrospectively. After excluding 27 patients whose HbA1c levels could not be evaluated 3 months after treatment, the glucose-lowering effects of SGLT2 inhibitors were assessed in 275 patients by measuring HbA1c levels before and 3 months after treatment. The predictors for changes in HbA1c levels after 3 months of treatment were evaluated. RESULTS: SGLT2 inhibitor treatment for 3 months decreased HbA1c levels from 7.8 ± 1.2% to 7.4 ± 1.0% (p < 0.0001). A multiple regression analysis showed that the independent determinants for SGLT2 inhibitor treatment effect included decreased HbA1c levels after 1 month of treatment, high baseline HbA1c levels, and a high estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). CONCLUSION: We show that type 2 diabetes patients who received the greatest glucose-lowering effect with SGLT2 inhibitor treatment were those with preserved renal function (high baseline eGFR) and high baseline HbA1c levels. Moreover, SGLT2 inhibitor treatment efficacy could be predicted by the patients' initial response to treatment.

Canagliflozin reduces epicardial fat in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether canagliflozin, a selective sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor, reduces epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness, which is associated with insulin resistance and is a risk factor for coronary artery disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: We administered 100 mg of canagliflozin for 6 months to 13 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We evaluated glycemic control, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) area, and skeletal muscle mass by using impedance methods, and EAT thickness by using echocardiography. Canagliflozin treatment for 6 months decreased hemoglobin A1c level from 7.1 ± 0.5% to 6.7 ± 0.6% (P < 0.05) and decreased EAT thickness from 9.3 ± 2.5 to 7.3 ± 2.0 mm (P < 0.001), along with a trend of decreasing VAT and SAT area. No association was found between any of these changes. CONCLUSION: Canagliflozin reduced EAT thickness in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus independent of its effect on lowering blood glucose, suggesting that canagliflozin may have an effect in preventing cardiovascular events in these patients (UMIN000021327).