SGLT2 Inhibitors: How They Work, Who They Help, and What You Need to Know

When your body can’t manage blood sugar the way it should, SGLT2 inhibitors, a class of oral diabetes medications that lower blood sugar by making the kidneys remove excess glucose through urine. Also known as gliflozins, they don’t just help control sugar—they’ve been shown in real-world studies to reduce the risk of heart failure and slow kidney damage in people with type 2 diabetes. Unlike older drugs that force your pancreas to make more insulin or make your body more sensitive to it, SGLT2 inhibitors work differently: they block a protein in your kidneys called SGLT2, which normally reabsorbs sugar back into your blood. When that protein is blocked, the sugar you don’t need just leaves your body through pee.

This class includes empagliflozin, a widely prescribed SGLT2 inhibitor proven in large trials to cut heart-related deaths in high-risk patients, canagliflozin, linked to reduced kidney disease progression in people with diabetes and chronic kidney disease, and dapagliflozin, used not only for diabetes but also for heart failure even without diabetes. These aren’t just sugar-lowering pills—they’re now part of a broader strategy to protect organs long-term. That’s why doctors are prescribing them more often, even for people who don’t have diabetes but have heart or kidney issues.

But they’re not without risks. Because they make you pee out more sugar, you might get more urinary tract or yeast infections. Dehydration is another concern, especially if you’re also on a diuretic or not drinking enough water. And while they help with weight loss (you’re literally losing sugar calories), they’re not a magic solution—you still need to watch your diet and activity. What’s clear from the research is that for many people, these drugs offer benefits beyond glucose control, which is why they’re showing up in guidelines for heart and kidney protection, not just diabetes.

Below, you’ll find real-world guides on how these drugs fit into broader medication safety, how they compare with other treatments, and what to watch for when using them alongside other pills. Whether you’re just starting one or have been on it for a while, the posts here will help you understand what’s happening in your body—and how to stay safe while getting the most out of your treatment.