title: Combination therapy for patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus: adding empagliflozin to pioglitazone or pioglitazone plus metformin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), there is a growing interest in sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, a class of glucose-lowering agents that act independently of insulin secretion and insulin action and also have a weight-lowering effect. Empagliflozin is an SGLT2 inhibitor that has been demonstrated to significantly reduce blood glucose levels and is well tolerated in patients with T2DM.
  
  
  METHODS
  Kovacs et al. have reported a randomized, placebo-controlled study of empagliflozin as add-on to pioglitazone or pioglitazone plus metformin in patients with T2DM. The study results are evaluated, and potential impact on clinical practice is considered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The addition of empagliflozin to pioglitazone or pioglitazone plus metformin treatment may offer some advantages. Together, their complementary mechanisms of action result in significant reductions in glycated hemoglobin levels, weight, and blood pressure, with a low risk of hypoglycemia, but were associated with an increased risk of events consistent with genital mycotic infections.
authors: Texas Diabetes & Endocrinology, P.A , 6500 N MoPac Expwy, Building III, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78731 , USA +1 512 458 8400 ; TBlevins@texasdiabetes.com.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Blevins
mesh_terms: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005960:Glucosides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077203:Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D005960:Glucosides; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000077203:Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D008687:Metformin
keywords: Phase III clinical trial; SGLT2 inhibitors; combination therapy; empagliflozin; metformin; pioglitazone; type 2 diabetes mellitus