SGLT2 Post Marketing Studies

This is so typical for “experts” and especially those on the receiving end of money from Big Pharma.

Dave Joffe, Editor-in-chief of Diabetes-in-Control makes this statement, “One of the problems that can occur in these postmarking studies is the lack of good controls and patient choices. This means that a lot of great drugs can get a bum rap because of external influences.”

I must wonder what he has in mind in his support of Big Pharma. The above statement is about the SGLT2 drugs. These drugs have not been on the market long enough to know what all the side effects are and whether the benefits outweigh the risks.

Apparently a few legal firms believe otherwise as they are trying to get patients involved in class action lawsuits especially against Invokana. Jardiance has been advertising heavily on TV, as has been Farxiga.

AACE and ACE are calling upon pharmaceutical companies to continue to investigate the mechanisms behind the metabolic effect of SGLT2i (sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors). They also make note that the diagnosis of DKA is often missed or delayed due to atypical presentation involving lower-than-anticipated glucose levels or other misleading laboratory values.

In addition, AACE and ACE encourages all associated stakeholders including medical societies, insurance companies, the pharmaceutical industry, hospitals, patient associations, and other interested parties to initiate educational activities to teach physicians and other related healthcare professionals who manage diabetes, on the proper ways to identify and treat DKA.

For people with type 2 diabetes there is one way to avoid DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis), and that is to not take any of the SGLT2i medications. This may seem harsh, but I would rather be safe than rely on “experts” on the payroll of Big Pharma and those receiving money from Big Pharma.

An international panel convened by AACE and ACE concludes that the risk-benefit ratio overwhelmingly favors continued use of SGLT2i. I cannot accept this and do wish that they could have been a little more cautious. I could not take any of the SGLT2i because of the conflicts I would have with my kidneys.

The one missing point in the panel discussion that is missing is the listing of conflicts of interest and what the panel members receive in compensation from the manufacturers of the three drugs.