February 6, 2024 – People with type 2 diabetes who’re treated with a certain class of medication have a significantly lower risk of developing kidney stones.
Medications called sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors include bexagliflozin (Brenzavvy), canagliflozin (Invokana), dapagliflozin (Farxiga), and empagliflozin (Jardiance).
“Our results suggest that in patients with type 2 diabetes, the individual risk profile for developing (kidney stone) nephrolithiasis may play a role in deciding which glucose-lowering medications patients should take,” write the authors of a brand new study, which was published this month in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Cases of kidney stones are increasing, and the issue is especially vital for individuals with type 2 diabetes as the chance of kidney stones could also be increased, potentially causing severe pain and resulting in worsening kidney function.
The study found that the SGLT2 inhibitors had a 26% lower risk of kidney stones than patients taking one other class of medication referred to as didpeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitors. Overall, patients taking SGLT2 drugs had a 31% lower risk.
There were no differences in outcomes based on gender, race, ethnicity, history of chronic kidney disease, or obesity.
Notably, adults under the age of 70 saw a greater reduction in risk in comparison with those over 70, although researchers should not sure why.