Type 2 diabetes: SGLT-2 inhibitors should be offered as first line treatment, doctors are told

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Source: BMJ

Original: http://www.bmj.com/content/392/bmj.s333.short?rss=1...

Published: 2026-02-18T02:56:02-08:00

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that doctors prescribe SGLT-2 inhibitors along with metformin for most patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. SGLT-2 inhibitors are tablets that help the kidneys remove excess glucose from the body. Until now, these drugs were only recommended for patients with type 2 diabetes who also had chronic heart failure, confirmed atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or a high risk of cardiovascular disease. According to the new recommendation from February 18, patients with type 2 diabetes diagnosed before the age of 40 should also be able to receive drugs from the class of GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as dulaglutide or tirzepatide, as an additional first-line treatment. This change represents an expansion of the use of SGLT-2 inhibitors as part of the initial treatment of type 2 diabetes.