Key Tips
Jardiance is a sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor, which is utilized in conjunction with diet and exercise to help control the blood sugar (sugar) in adults with Type 2 Diabetes. It lowers blood sugar levels by blocking kidney proteins to increase glucose excretion through the urine.
Jardiance decreases the chance of dying from heart disease (like stroke or heart attack) in adults who have heart disease. It also reduces the likelihood of hospitalization as well as death as a result of cardiac failure (when your heart has weakens and unable to pump enough blood to the rest parts of the body) in patients with heart failure.
Over time, high blood sugar levels could cause plaque to build up in your blood vessels, which can increase your risk of heart disease.
How does Jardiance work?
Jardiance (empagliflozin) is classified as an SGLT-2 (sodium-glucose cotransporter-2) inhibitor. The SGLT-2 protein is located inside the kidney tubules of kidneys. They are responsible for taking glucose and reintroducing it back into the blood. The jardiance blockage blocks the action in the SGLT-2 proteins. In the end, more glucose is excreted into the urine.
SGLT-2 inhibitors have been proven to be effective in lowering hemoglobin A1C levels as well as improving weight loss and lowering blood pressure.
Jardiance may be combined with other medicines used to treat type 2 diabetes, such as pioglitazone, metformin, sulfonylure and insulin as well as other heart medications like beta blockers, statins, ACE inhibitors, and diuretics.
If used on their own the SGLT-2 inhibitors come with a low risk of the condition known as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels). But, your doctor may require you to reduce your dosage of Jardiance if you are taking it in conjunction with other medications that can cause lower blood sugar levels, for example, insulin or sulfonylureas.
Other FDA approved medicines in the SGLT-2 inhibitor category include:
canagliflozin (Invokana)
dapagliflozin (Farxiga)
ertugliflozin (Steglatro)
These medications are sold as single ingredient products or combined with other diabetic medications.
How can Jardiance help me manage my diabetes type 2?
In type 2 diabetes your body isn’t producing enough insulin, the insulin you produce does not work as well and it is possible that you produce too much sugar (sugar). This is when glucose accumulates in your blood , which can result in serious health problems that affect the kidney, heart blood vessels, nerves and eyes. Fitness, diet and use of special medications can help to lower your blood sugar levels and decrease the risk from type 2 diabetes.
Many people who are first recognized as having type 2 diabetes begin on an oral medicine known as metformin. It’s in the class of medications known as biguanides. It improves the ability of cells to utilize glucose (blood sugar) by improving how your insulin functions, as well as reducing liver glucose absorption and production.
But, there are some patients who cannot attain their blood sugar goals using metformin by itself and will require additional medications.
Jardiance can be incorporated into metformin and other medications to help you achieve your A1C goal. A1C is a simple blood test that measures the amounts of sugar (glucose) in your blood over the last two to three months, which will let you know how the blood sugar level is being managed over time.
Who should not use Jardiance?
Jardiance should not be used in people with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis (increased ketones found in urine or in the blood). Use in patients with type 1 diabetes could increase the risk for diabetic ketoacidosis.
It is best not to use Jardiance in the event that you’ve had a history of an extreme allergic reaction to Jardiance or any of its components.
Also, you should not take this drug if your condition is serious renal (renal) disease or end-stage renal disease or suffer from dialysis. Your physician will examine your kidney function before you begin the treatment process with Jardiance. Jardiance might not be effective when you have severe kidney problems.
How do I handle Jardiance?
Take Jardiance every day as your doctor tells you. It comes in a tablets of 10 or 25 mg that you swallow.
The dose recommended for Jardiance of 10 mg once every day in the morning whether or not food is consumed. If you are tolerating Jardiance, the dose may increase to 25 mg should you require it.
Your doctor will check your kidney function with an in-person blood test prior to you start treatment. If you’re suffering from a certain degree of kidney disease, you might not be able Jardiance.
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Do not take Jardiance If you have an allergy or to any ingredient in it.
Jardiance is not suitable for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.
The most important side effects of Jardiance
Jardiance is generally well-tolerated. However, like any drug, there are significant side effects that you should review and discuss with your physician.
The most serious side effects associated with Jardiance can be:
Ketoacidosis (increased ketones in urine or your blood)
Sudden kidney injury
Urinary tract infections
The condition of dehydration (the loss of body fluids and salt)
A low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
Necrotizing fasciitis (a uncommon but serious infection that occurs under the skin and can happen within the anus or genitals)
Allergic reactions
Increased cholesterol
The most frequent adverse symptoms (5% or greater) that may occur with Jardiance are:
Urinary tract infections
The infection is caused by yeast.