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.