Last Updated: December 2024
Many doctors advise patients to take sodium-glucose co-transporters (SGLT2) because they have been proven to lower blood sugar levels significantly.
Drugs classified as this type do not target insulin or the pancreas in any way. SGLT2 drugs work to prevent the kidneys from reabsorbing sugar and putting it back into the bloodstream.
There are many different types of drugs in this classification, such as Invokana, Farxiga, and Jardiance. Jardiance may offer the most benefits for most patients.
There are ten surprising benefits of Jardiance that make it one of the most effective medications prescribed by physicians to treat type 2 diabetes.
Lowers Risk of Cardiovascular Death
The FDA found that patients with type 2 diabetes have a 70% higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
Research has shown that Jardiance can reduce cardiovascular death by 38%, and overall death by 32%.
The FDA approved Jardiance to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death in patients that had type 2 diabetes. This is the only type 2 diabetes drug approved on the market that has this benefit.
Weight Loss
Does Jardiance cause weight loss? Some people with type 2 diabetes are overweight and need help to lose weight. A patient is usually prescribed to follow a diet and exercise program along with taking a prescribed medication.
If diet and exercise can not be done at first, just taking Jardiance by itself has shown a typical weight loss of 2-3%, based on a 24-week study.
Weight loss is a benefit of taking this medication, but Jardiance is not FDA approved to be a weight loss drug for those without type 2 diabetes. It is important to remember that having a healthy diet and exercise routine will also aid in helping this condition.
Lowers Blood Pressure
Jardiance is a drug that removes sodium from the body. When the body’s sodium content is lowered, this can lower blood pressure. This is an added benefit of using Jardiance because people with type 2 diabetes are twice as likely to have high blood pressure.
Jardiance is not approved as a blood pressure medication, due to how it works in the body, but the effect may be positive for those who have high blood pressure.
Patients already taking a blood pressure medication should use caution and make sure their doctors know about all of their medications.
Reduced Chance of Hospitalization from Heart Failure
A person diagnosed with type 2 diabetes has a higher rate of heart failure and heart disease. High-risk patients, as identified by their physician, can benefit from taking Jardiance. This drug has been shown to have a 25% decrease in hospitalization for heart failure.
This is the first known diabetes medication that has shown such benefits.
Jardiance was approved in 2014 for type 2 diabetes and now has the approval to treat adult patients that are at high risk for heart failure.
Lowers the Risk of Kidney Disease
Type 2 diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure in patients. About 1 in 3 patients with diabetes will develop kidney disease.
Dr. Thomas Seck, who serves as vice president of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. stated, “…Jardiance may reduce the risk of new or worsening kidney disease in adults with cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, which is the number one cause of kidney failure in the U.S.”
The risk of kidney failure is one of the biggest concerns with diabetic patients. A medication that can reduce this risk offers so many benefits.
Has a Lower Risk for Hypoglycemia
The risk of hypoglycemia (also known as low blood sugar) from Jardiance is low. Jardiance does not work like other diabetic medications that will change the insulin levels to lower blood sugar levels.
Jardiance lowers blood sugar levels by directly increasing how much glucose is excreted in the urine, unlike other diabetes medications that affect insulin levels or insulin sensitivity. The effects start within 30 to 60 minutes of first taking the medication.
Lowers HbA1c Levels
Type 2 diabetes patients sometimes have a hard time controlling their A1c levels for many reasons. In the way Jardiance works, removing excessive glucose (sugar) from the body through urine, this in return helps control the glucose in the body.
An A1c test is a test that looks at blood sugar levels over the course of three months. Patients who take Jardiance tend to experience better control of the A1c levels long-term.
Side Effects are Well Tolerated
Jardiance is a medication that is well tolerated.
The side effects are usually mild such as:
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Nausea
- Dehydration
- Weakness
- Urinary Tract Infections
- Yeast infections
With the side effects being well-tolerated, other diabetic drugs may be added to the use of Jardiance to help maintain sugar levels. Some of these medications include:
- Metformin
- Linagliptin (Tradjenta)
- Insulin
- Pioglitazone
Protects the Heart
In addition to lowering blood glucose levels and blood pressure, Jardiance also protects the heart overall.
When the heart does not have to work as hard to pump blood, it is protected from a cardiac event. By lowering the volume of fluid in the blood, it may help to decrease the damage to the walls of blood vessels.
Jardiance Can be Taken Long Term
Jardiance can have effects very quickly on a person’s blood sugar levels and for some patients, improvement has been demonstrated in as little as one to two weeks.
The most improvements have been noted over a period of 24-weeks.
Jardiance does not need to be prescribed at the onset of diabetes. There are patients who have had diabetes for years who have been prescribed this medication, and it is best for them to plan on taking it long-term.
The body does not build up a tolerance to this drug in the same way it might to other medications. This is of great benefit to patients.
Jardiance and its Benefits
It is surprising that one medication for type 2 diabetes can be so beneficial. But all of the above have been proven through various studies.
Jardiance has changed the outlook for prescribed medicine for type 2 diabetes, and its benefits cannot be denied:
- Lower risk of hospitalization for heart failure.
- Lower risk of kidney failure.
- Improved chances of weight loss.
- Lower blood pressure.
- Lower risk of being hospitalized for heart-related issues.
- Lower risk of heart attack and dying from a heart attack.
All medications have side effects, but sometimes those side effects are not tolerable. That is not the case with Jardiance. While it does have some side effects, they are tolerable, and most should go away with time.
Patients taking Jardiance can enjoy its many benefits long-term without questioning the medication’s safety.
Get Help Paying for Diabetes Medications Through The Rx Advocates
The Rx Advocates offers financial assistance to people who are unable to afford their medications on a monthly basis. If you take insulin or other diabetes medications, you are no doubt aware of how expensive they can be.
The cost of Jardiance is around $674.15 per month (pricing as of June 2022). If your doctor prescribes this medication to treat your type 2 diabetes, you might need help paying for it. Our goal is to provide solutions to those seeking to reduce the high cost of prescription drugs.
The Rx Advocates helps patients apply for patient assistance programs that are offered through prescription drug manufacturers. In return, the patients receive their medication for much less than they would have paid out of pocket. In fact, patients only need to pay the cost of our services. Their medications are delivered to them every month, free of charge.
Diabetes is a serious health condition that should not be ignored. Find out how we can help you cover the cost of your diabetes medications by contacting us today.Jar
