SGLT2 Inhibitors: How These Diabetes Drugs Work and What You Need to Know

When your body can’t manage blood sugar well, SGLT2 inhibitors, a class of oral diabetes medications that reduce blood glucose by making the kidneys remove sugar through urine. Also known as gliflozins, they’re not just about lowering sugar—they’ve been shown to protect the heart and kidneys in people with type 2 diabetes. Unlike older drugs that force the pancreas to make more insulin or make cells more sensitive to it, SGLT2 inhibitors work differently: they block a protein in your kidneys that normally reabsorbs sugar back into your blood. Instead, that sugar gets flushed out with urine—no insulin needed.

This makes them useful for people who’ve tried metformin and still struggle with high glucose, or those with heart failure or chronic kidney disease. Drugs like empagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor proven to reduce heart-related deaths in high-risk patients, canagliflozin, linked to lower risk of kidney failure in diabetic patients, and dapagliflozin, shown to slow kidney disease progression even in non-diabetics are now common in treatment plans. They often come with weight loss as a side effect because you’re literally peeing out calories, and they tend to lower blood pressure too. But they’re not without risks: urinary tract infections and genital yeast infections are more common because sugar in urine creates a breeding ground for bacteria. Dehydration and low blood pressure can happen, especially if you’re on diuretics or don’t drink enough water.

The posts below cover real-world concerns people have with these drugs—like how they fit into a broader medication plan, what to do if you’re also taking insulin, or how to manage side effects without stopping treatment. You’ll find advice on balancing SGLT2 inhibitors with other diabetes meds, understanding kidney health while on them, and even how to save money on prescriptions. Whether you’re newly prescribed one or have been using it for years, these guides help you use them safely, effectively, and without unnecessary cost.