Metformin, as opposed to sulfonylurea could be the best way to treat your type-2 diabetes if you have chronic kidney disease, a new study revealed. This news is of particular importance to patients with reduced eGFR numbers, as the study showed they experienced the most risk reduction from the change in treatment option.
The University of Washington in Seattle, led by James Floyd, MD studied a group of veterans who were being treated for type 2 diabetes, either with metformin or a sulfonylurea from 2004 to 2009. Out of this group of 175,296, 5,121 died, however the mortality rates for those on metformin were 36% lower than those on a sulfonylurea. Also noteworthy, patients on metformin whose eGFR was 90 mL/min/1.73 m2 or higher had a 41% lower risk of mortality than the control group.
The FDA is considering metformin initiation as a standard treatment option for those with type 2 diabetes and CKD, even more severe cases, due in part to this study along with others which have corroborated metformin’s benefits.
