PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Doctors have found that two new classes of drugs intended to control diabetes have benefits for other aspects of a patient’s health.
The drugs, such as Farxiga, Invokana and Jardiance, have been around for a few years, but doctors are now discovering they do more than control Type 2 diabetes. They say the drugs can also significantly reduce serious complications with the heart and kidneys.
“They could significantly reduce damage to the heart pump. It could reduce the risk of heart attacks, heart failure, kidney failure, patients progressing to the need to be on dialysis, and so forth,” explained Dr. Janani Rangaswami, nephrologist and associate chair of research in the Department of Internal Medicine at Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia. “We’re actually being able to marry these intentions and achieve both with one medicine.”
Unfortunately, not everyone has access to the medications.
Rangaswami said patients don’t always receive new drugs because not all physicians are familiar with their use, and not all insurance companies will pay for them.
“There are several regions where patients are under-insured or uninsured with a lot of competing financial needs, food insecurity and so many problems built into the social system,” she said. “That is ironic that actually, the highest-risk patients who would truly benefit from being on these medicines are sometimes the last people to have access to these medicines.”
Because diabetes is a growing problem in this country, Rangaswami said controlling associated health issues will not only save money, but also save lives.