FDA Warns Diabetes Drug May Be Linked to a Flesh-Eating Bacteria
Diabetes drugs may be linked to flesh-eating bacteria in the genital area of men and women. The bacteria usually enter the body through a cut and quickly spread. A diagnosis of diabetes is a risk factor for developing the infection Fournier's gangrene. The class of medication associated with an increased risk is sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors.
To put it plainly the infection causes necrotizing fasciitis, or what is known as the deadly flesh-eating disease. The infection affects women's vaginal area it targets the area between scrotum and anus of men. The FDA warns patients to seek immediate medical attention if they experience any symptoms of tenderness, redness or swelling or have a fever above 100.4 Fahrenheit (F). The symptoms worsen quickly, so it is vital to seek immediate treatment.
In the five years between March 2013 and May 2018, the FDA identified 12 cases of patients taking the medication who developed the infection. They acknowledge these numbers only include reports submitted to the FDA and found in the medical literature. But the real numbers are much higher possiblly thousands because there are many forms of the infections ranging from a benign form of the disease to an all-out assault on the body where the bacteria eats flesh and disfigured the body to no end.
So how was the Fournier’s gangrene infection AKA fleshing eating found? The bacteria was found in patients on SGLT-2 inhibitor who had fallen gravely ill had to be immediately hospitalized and required surgery.”
The FDA found one patient had died and others required multiple disfiguring surgeries to stem the infection.7 As diabetes increases the risk of Fournier’s gangrene, the data were analyzed for patients who were taking glucose-lowering agents.8 The infection is more typically found in men ages 50 to 60.9
The SGLT-2 inhibitors are a class of hypoglycemic drugs designed to work against SGLT-2, a low affinity, high capacity transporter protein found in the kidneys However SGLT-2 has failed miserably to perform a safe effective way to lower blood sugar. Drugs to avoid at all cost with SGL4T inhibitors include canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and empagliflozin. Consult your doctor or health care professional concerning any complications of your diabetes medications. At this juncture, the jury is out and the FDA has yet to ban these drugs.
