Study finds diabetes pill can prevent heart, kidney disease

A cheap and common medication for diabetes sufferers can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and kidney disease, a study has found.

Researchers monitored over 10,000 participants with type 2 diabetes and high cardiovascular risk for over three years, giving some one Canagliflozin tablet per day and others a placebo drug.

Canagliflozin is usually taken once daily before breakfast and is commonly used to help manage Type 2 diabetes.

The study found that those who took the Canagliflozin — sold under the trade name Invokana — reduced their risk of cardiovascular disease by 14 per cent and helped ward off kidney disease.

Both conditions are common issues for those living with diabetes.

The findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the American Diabetes Association Conference in San Diego.

Diabetes Australia says about 1.2 millions Aussies are registered as living with Type 2 diabetes, but they estimate there could be another 500,000 people who are yet to properly seek treatment.

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The study’s findings offer hope to those trying to manage the long list of consequential health issues that arise with diabetes.

Professor Bruce Neal, of The George Institute for Global Health, said canagliflozin also offered weight loss benefits.

“Coronary heart disease is the biggest killer by far for people with type 2 diabetes.

“Our findings suggest that not only does Canagliflozin significantly reduce the risk of heart disease, it also has many other benefits too.

“We found it also reduced blood pressure and led to weight loss.

“Type two diabetes is growing rapidly all over the world and we need drugs that not only deal with glucose levels, but that also protect the many millions of people from the very real risks of stroke and heart attack.”

Are you living with diabetes? How do you manage it?