Diabetes Drugs: A New Weapon Against Kidney Stones

Ever wondered if diabetes drugs could do more than just control blood sugar? Well, they might! Recent research shows that certain diabetes drugs can lower the risk of kidney stones. These drugs, called SGLT-2 inhibitors, help the body get rid of extra fluid. This makes the kidneys work better and reduces the chance of painful kidney stones. In fact, people taking these drugs were 30% less likely to get kidney stones or gout in a study. Isn't that interesting? Diabetes is a big deal in the UK, with over 5. 6 million people having it. Most of them have type 2 diabetes, where the body can't control blood sugar levels. This can lead to serious problems like blindness, losing limbs, or heart failure. Kidney stones and gout are also common in people with type 2 diabetes. Kidney stones are hard lumps of minerals and salts that can be very painful. They happen when the kidneys aren't working right. Diabetes can hurt the kidneys, making patients twice as likely to get kidney stones. Gout is also linked to poorly functioning kidneys. It's a type of arthritis that happens when uric acid builds up in the joints. The study followed 20, 000 diabetics for a year. Those taking SGLT-2 inhibitors like canagliflozin or dapagliflozin had a lower risk of kidney stones or gout. Experts say these drugs should be the first choice for doctors. But currently, they aren't the go-to option.

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