Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors: the new option for diabetes mellitus management.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus continues to be a challenging disease to manage successfully. Beyond the first-line option metformin, there are a number of classes of medications from which to select. This article reviews the new sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors canagliflozin and dapagliflozin, including their benefits, adverse effects, and potential place in therapy. Upon review, the use of these medications has led to an A1c reduction between -0.37% and -1.16%. These medications also have been shown to reduce A1c when used with insulin. Some adverse effects were noted when using canagliflozin and dapagliflozin, with the most frequent being urinary tract infections and genital mycotic infections. We review the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and their potential roles in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus.