Treatment of type 2 diabetes patients with heart conditions

Abstract

Introduction: While type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) increases the risk of cardiac complications, diabetes treatment choices may increase or decrease the rates of cardiac events. In the present review, we comprehensively discussed the treatment options of diabetic subjects with cardiac conditions.

Areas covered: Current evidence related to diabetes treatment in cardiac situations has been reviewed. Clinical trials and meta-analyses on cardiac safety of anti-diabetic medicines are discussed. Treatment choices with proven benefits and those at least without associated increased cardiac risk were drawn from clinical trials; meta-analyses and cardiac safety studies in the recent medical literature were the basis of the suggestions in the present review.

Expert opinion: We can suggest that hypoglycemia and extreme hyperglycemia should be avoided in acute ischemic heart conditions. Certain diabetic treatment options, especially sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, can reduce overall cardiovascular mortality and hospitalization due to heart failure. Therefore, we suggest that physicians should choose SGLT2 inhibitors as the first-line treatment option in diabetic patients with heart failure or those who have a high risk of heart failure development. T2DM increases the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), and metformin and pioglitazone seem to reduce the risk of AF in diabetic population.

Keywords: Type 2 diabetes mellitus; atrial fibrillation; cardiac conditions; diabetes treatment; heart failure.