What you need to know about Jardiance (Empagliflozin) for diabetes

Do you have Type 2 Diabetes? Your doctor may have prescribed you a pill called Jardiance. You may be curious to know more about this medication. What kind of medication is it, what happens to your body, and what precautions you should take. So today, let's talk briefly about Jardiance, how it works, its benefits, and what you should be aware of.

What is Jardiance? How does it work in the body?

Jardiance is a medication used to treat adults and children with type 2 diabetes. It works by controlling blood sugar levels. It also helps reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in adults with diabetes. However, it is not approved for type 1 diabetes. It is also sometimes used in people who do not have diabetes but have heart failure or kidney disease.

Okay, now let's see how this works. Simply put, what our kidneys normally do is filter the sugar (glucose) in the blood and reabsorb it back into the body. They don't let it out in the urine.

The Jardiance pill temporarily blocks the action of the SGLT2 protein. This allows the extra sugar that the body cannot reabsorb to pass through the urine. This lowers blood sugar levels. This process may also help you lose some weight and control your blood pressure .

To what extent have the benefits of this medicine been proven?

Many large clinical studies have been done to find out how safe and effective Jardiance is. These studies mainly looked at how effective the drug was in reducing HbA1c (a test that shows average blood sugar levels over the past 3 months).

The studies included adults with type 2 diabetes, children aged 10-17, people with kidney disease, and people with heart disease. The drug's effects were also compared with other diabetes medications (e.g., insulin, metformin, glimepiride).

Okay, now let's see what the results of these studies found. Remember, these are average results. Your results may vary depending on your body.

Results for children and kidney patients

Jardiance has been shown to significantly reduce HbA1c levels and fasting blood sugar levels in children aged 10-17 years. It has also helped reduce HbA1c levels in adults with diabetes and kidney disease.

Can other medications interact with Jardiance?

Yes, it is very important to take care of this.

• Low blood sugar: If you take other medications for diabetes, especially insulin or sulfonylureas (such as glimepiride), you may experience low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) when you start Jardiance. Therefore, your doctor may reduce the dose of your other medications.
• Dehydration: If you are taking diuretics, taking them with Jardiance may cause dehydration. Therefore, it is important to drink plenty of fluids.
• Lithium: If you are taking lithium for a mental condition, its effects may change when you start Jardiance. Talk to your doctor about this and get blood tests if necessary.

How to avoid dangerous side effects?

This part is very important. Although Jardiance is a very useful drug, there are some serious side effects that we should be aware of.

1. Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA):

• This is a bit of a dangerous situation. When the body can't use sugar, it uses another way to get energy. This creates chemicals called ketones . When these accumulate in the blood, they can be very dangerous.
• Symptoms: nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, extreme fatigue, difficulty breathing.
• > If you experience these symptoms, stop taking Jardiance immediately and see a doctor or go to a hospital emergency room (ETU). This is an emergency.

2. Infections:

• This medicine increases the amount of sugar in the urine, which increases the risk of bacterial and yeast infections. Infections can occur in the urinary tract, bladder, and genital areas.
• Fournier's Gangrene: A very rare, but very dangerous infection that can occur around the genital area. Seek immediate medical attention if you have pain, redness, or swelling in the area along with fever and weakness.

3. Leg and foot problems:

• Some studies have shown a slight increase in amputations, especially in people with peripheral artery disease.
• So check your feet carefully every day.If you have any wounds, ulcers, cracks, or signs of infection, tell your doctor immediately.

4. Effects on the kidneys:

• Dehydration can affect kidney function. Therefore, it is essential to drink plenty of water. Your doctor may order a blood test to check your kidney function.

5. Allergic Reactions:

• If you experience severe allergic reactions such as swelling of the lips, face, or tongue, difficulty breathing, or skin rashes, stop taking the medicine immediately and seek medical advice.

How to use the medicine correctly?

Jardiance is a pill that you take once a day. Take the dose (10mg or 25mg) that your doctor prescribes.

• It is best to take it in the morning: Most doctors recommend taking it in the morning. The reason is that it increases the frequency of urination, so that it can occur during the day without disrupting sleep at night.
• How do you know if the medicine is working?: You can tell by the decrease in your blood sugar level and HbA1c. But it takes about 3 months for your HbA1c to change. If you do a urine test while you are taking Jardiance, it will show that there is sugar in your urine. This is normal, don't worry about it. It means the medicine is working.