A rare but potentially deadly side effect has been reported about the type 2 diabetes drugs known as SGLT2 inhibitors. These are new drugs that lower blood sugar by inhibiting the reabsorption of glucose in the kidneys. Therefore you excrete more glucose in your urine. Specifically, they work by inhibiting sodium-glucose transport protein 2 (SGLT2), and that’s why they’re called SGLT2 inhibitors. These drugs have become popular in recent years because some research has shown they may help to protect type 2 diabetics from heart disease, reduce blood pressure and make it easier to lose weight. That’s where the benefits end. The FDA has recently received reports of a rare but very serious bacterial infection in patients taking common SGLT2 inhibitors. In response, the FDA has issued a formal warning about necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum, also called Fournier gangrene. It is a genital infection that can spread rapidly and may even result in death! (Just a warning if you decide to do a search of those terms in Google Images. It’s not for the faint hearted)! Symptoms of the infection can begin as early as one week after starting the drug, or after being on it for two or more years. So far there have been 12 case reports to the FDA. All of the 12 patients were hospitalized and required surgical removal of the damaged tissue. Four patients developed life threatening systemic complications, including septic shock, and one patient actually died. Essentially, this is a type of gangrene that affects the genitals, spreads rapidly and can kill. So which diabetes drugs are SGLT2 inhibitors? They include the following: canagliflozin, empagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and ertugliflozin. SGLT2 inhibitors are prescribed to 1.7 million Americans each year. The most common side effects include yeast infections, urinary tract infections, and the risk of excessively low blood sugar if they are taken with other diabetes drugs. There is almost always an alternative medication for type 2 diabetes than a SGLT2 inhibitor. If you are taking one of these drugs, please don’t discontinue it on your own. Please see your doctor and discuss alternatives. It is also important to realise that the majority of cases of type 2 diabetes can be reversed, with strategies such as diet changes, weight loss, exercise and the right nutritional supplements. High blood sugar can damage almost every organ in your body. Having type 2 diabetes can shorten your life, and also give you numerous health problems and symptoms that reduce your quality of life and cost you a lot of money. My recommendations for type 2 diabetes are in my book Diabetes Type 2: You Can Reverse It. Berberine is a herbal extract with a remarkable ability to help reduce elevated blood sugar and blood fats, as well as help diabetics lose weight. It is also critical to avoid sugar and reduce the amount of carbohydrate in your diet. That’s easier said than done. It is why I recommend Glicemic Balance capsules, to greatly reduce hunger and cravings. Reference

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