A novel approach.

摘要

French chemists first discovered an SGLT-2 inhibitor in the bark of an apple tree back in 1835. At the time, they couldn't have known they'd found the precursor of a class of medications that would become a new diabetes treatment almost 180 years later. This spring, canagliflozin (Invokana) became the first SGLT-2 inhibitor to receive Food and Drug Administration clearance for sale in the United States. This new option for people with type 2 diabetes has some enticing qualities, such as weight loss and a low risk of hypoglycemia, but it's important to be aware of potential side effects, too. Consider this your meet-and-greet with the newest member of the diabetes medication clan. Shift in Focus Until SGLT-2 inhibitors, diabetes medications were mainly about insulin, the hormone that helps the body absorb glucose from the blood for fuel. Primary diabetes medications have traditionally worked through some combination of encouraging the pancreas to produce more insulin, increasing the body's sensitivity to insulin, and providing insulin from outside the body. The SGLT-2 inhibitors target the kidneys, lowering blood glucose by sending excess sugar into the urine. You may be wondering what exactly the kidneys have to do with blood glucose in the first place.