Did you know that diabetes can cause kidney stones? Well, if you are someone who has experienced the excruciating pain associated with kidney stones, you'll be glad to know that there may be a new way to prevent them.
A recent clinical trial suggests that taking empagliflozin, a medication used to treat type diabetes, may decrease the risk of developing kidney stones.
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. It occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood glucose. Thus, diabetes results in an elevated blood sugar level which can cause serious damage to many body organs such heart, blood vessels, nerves, and kidneys.
Nephrolithiasis, or kidney stones, is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It occurs when crystals of minerals and salts build up in the kidneys and form stones. These stones can cause severe pain and discomfort and can even lead to more serious health problems if left untreated.
Diabetes is known to be associated with kidney stones. It has been recently suggested that empagliflozin, a drug used in the treatment of diabetes, can reduce the risk of kidney stones however, strong scientific evidence has been missing.
Empagliflozin is in a class of medications called sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. It lowers blood sugar by causing the kidneys to get rid of more glucose in the urine. This helps to lower blood sugar levels in diabetic patients.
A recent clinical trial sought to investigate whether empagliflozin could indeed reduce the occurrence of kidney stones in diabetic patients.
In this clinical study, researchers analyzed data from more than 15,081 patients with type 2 diabetes. They were divided into two groups. One group was given empagliflozin while the other was given alternative diabetes medication. The clinical study found that those who were taking empagliflozin had a lower risk of developing kidney stones than those who were not taking the medication.
The results of the clinical trial showed that 104 out of 10,177 patients (1.02%) taking the drug developed kidney stones while stones were also detected in 79 out of 4,904 patients (1.61%) who did not take this drug. This demonstrated that the rate of stone formation was significantly lower in those patients who were taking empagliflozin.
The clinical study's authors suggest that empagliflozin may decrease the risk of kidney stones by increasing urine volume, which can help flush out minerals and salts from the kidneys. Additionally, the medication may also reduce the concentration of these minerals and salts in the urine, making it less likely for kidney stones to form.
In conclusion, the results of this clinical study offer hope for those people who suffer from diabetes as it highlights the use of empagliflozin as a new option for preventing kidney stones in people with diabetes. If you have diabetes and are concerned about your risk of developing kidney stones, it is important to speak with your doctor to find out if empagliflozin can be an appropriate treatment for you.
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