This diabetes drug can lower the risk of kidney stones, gout: Study

Good news for people with diabetes who can enjoy better kidney health as well as ward off gout, thanks to a pioneering diabetes drug that can also cut the risk of kidney stones.
A study published in BMJ highlights how SGLT-2 inhibitors can handle two painful conditions in type 2 diabetes - kidney stones and gout flare-ups. The drugs Canagliflozin and Dapaliflozin work by helping the body to flush out excess fluid, which in turn can make the kidney function more effectively.

It is to be noted that both kidney stones and gout are common conditions in people with diabetes and can significantly reduce quality of life for diabetics.
Previous research studies found that diabetes patients taking the daily tablets saw their risk of early death and hospitalization reduced by more than a quarter. Now, a new study in Canada has found that those on medication with SGLT-2 inhibitors experience fewer developing conditions, indirectly helping them lead healthier lives. The Canadian research noted that people taking the diabetes drug do not suffer from gout—agonizing joint pain—and that these medications can help diabetic patients live healthier lives.


Kidney stones and gout are common complications found in people with type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance in diabetes can spike the levels of calcium in the urine which raises the possibility of kidney stones. This can result in kidney damage. Kidney stones are hard deposits of minerals and salts and they are incredibly painful. It occurs when kidneys are not functioning as they should be. The study mentioned that people have twice the possibility to develop stones who do not have diabetes.
Apart from kidney stones, gout is also related to poor-functioning of kidneys. It is a swelling caused due to the build up of uric acid - the toxin filtered by the kidney, but which settles in the joints. The study conducted at the University of British Columbia closely watched the case of 20,000 diabetic patients over a year and it was found that those taking the drugs Canagliflozin or Dapagliflozin were 30% less likely to be affected by kidney stones or gout.

While SGLT-2 inhibitors have been shown to lower the risk of heart failure and kidney disease, so far their impact on kidney stones and gout has been unclear.
For the study, around 20,146 adults with type 2 diabetes and a history of kidney stones or gout were involved. They compared the effects of SGLT-2 inhibitors with two other classes of diabetes drugs—GLP-1 receptor agonists and DPP-4 inhibitors. The study found that SGLT-2 inhibitors were linked with a 33% lower recurrence rate of kidney stones compared to GLP-1 receptor agonists, with similar benefits observed for gout flare-ups.
The researchers believed that SGLT-2 inhibitors worked by increasing urinary volume and lowering blood uric acid levels, which reduces the concentration of stone-forming crystals.

However, considering the study is observational in nature, no firm conclusions can be drawn. The findings nevertheless suggest that SGLT-2 inhibitors can be a valuable addition to treatment plans for patients with type 2 diabetes, especially those also managing kidney stones and gout.
While diabetes drugs are not generally prescribed to treat kidney stones. The two SGLT 2 drugs show potential kidney protecting effects and might be of benefit to use for chronic kidney disease rather than directly using for treating kidney stones.