‘Flozins’ reduce diabetes complications, but beware of euglycaemic ketoacidosis

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PHARMACOTHERAPY

‘Flozins’ reduce diabetes complications, but beware of euglycaemic ketoacidosis

3 February 2021

By Leanne Te Karu and Linda Bryant

Wednesday 3 February 2021, 12:15 AM

Consuming a diet very low in carbohydrates is a risk factor for euglycaemic ketoacidosis while taking a flozin [Image: Alex Munsell on Unsplash]

The arrival of funded empagliflozin has been eagerly awaited by many. As you start prescribing it to patients meeting Pharmac’s new Special Authority criteria, here’s a hypothetical case study illustrating one possible adverse effect to be aware of

Key points, Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce renal, cardiovascular and heart failure complications of diabetes, while lowering blood glucose level, Pract Green w Pale Yellow

Medicines and Therapies

Endocrinology

Health Equity

References

Gomez-Peralta F, Abreu C, Lecube A, et al. Practical approach to initiating SGLT2 inhibitors in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Ther 2017;8(5):953–62.
Musso G, Saba F, Cassader M, et al. Diabetes ketoacidosis with SGLT2 inhibitors. BMJ 2020;371:m4147.
Neuen BL, Young T, Heerspink HJL, et al. SGLT2 inhibitors for the prevention of kidney failure in patients with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2019;7(11):845–54.
Yandrapalli S, Aronow WS. Cardiovascular benefits of the newer medications for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Thorac Dis 2017;9(7):2124–34.

How to Treat

+How to treat

Heart failure

Pharmacist prescribers Linda Bryant and Leanne Te Karu discuss positive polypharmacy for heart failure. Current evidence shows the intensive implementation of four medications offers the greatest benefit to most patients with heart failure, with significant reductions in cardiovascular mortality, heart failure hospitalisations and all-cause mortality

Wednesday 29 January 2025, 12:45 AM