The class of drugs known as SGLT2 inhibitors are more effective at lowering blood sugar than any existing oral medication for Type 2 diabetes and reduce mortality in high risk individuals. They do not cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) or weight gain, which are major problems with injected insulin and sulfonylurea medication (oral). Their cost is $2.80/day, which is comparable to the DPP-4 inhibitor class of medications that offers less value to people with diabetes and is covered by PharmaCare.

BCDiabetes medical director, Dr. Tom Elliott, believes the lack of coverage for this class of drug may deprive up to 50,000 British Columbians access to this life saving therapy.

“This class of drug should be the first choice for more than half the 350,000 British Columbians living with diabetes and an absolute necessity for the estimated 50,000 British Columbians at high risk. These drugs save lives. The recently published EMPA-REG study indicated that individuals with diabetes and past history of heart attack or stroke who took the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin, experienced a stunning 32% reduction in mortality. If all 50,000 British Columbians at high risk took this drug 600 lives would be saved per year.”

“In addition this class is remarkably effective at lowering blood sugar for patients not on insulin, and also results in weight loss. 80% of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight so you have this drug that does wonders for diabetes management, but also addresses one of the strongest comorbidities: being overweight.

“That the SGLT2 inhibitor class of drug is not covered by BC PharmaCare is a travesty.”