Diabetes Medications with Cardiovascular Benefits
Afraid of diabetes medicines, knowing they can affect your heart? Learn all about diabetes medications with cardiovascular benefits and get proper treatment! Cardiovascular issues are one of the prime reasons for the deaths of those patients who have diabetes. But not for those who take diabetes medications with cardiovascular benefits.
The most effective medications are GLP-1-RA and SGLT-2 class (Victoza, Ozempic, Trulicity, Jardiance are the common brands) that can reduce cardiovascular events significantly. And Metformin can even reduce the possibility of heart failure by 30%. They also help to maintain low blood sugar levels. Some antioxidants are also helpful to reduce the risks of CVD (cardiovascular diseases).
Diabetes is a disease that can easily affect your other body parts like the kidney, liver, and mostly the heart. So, it’s better to take medications that can also take care of the heart along with diabetes.
Why Search Cardio Benefits in Diabetic Medications?
Diabetic dyslipidemia leads to diabetes patients at higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. That’s why some medications can help those diabetic patients to deal with heart problems.
Usually, type-1 diabetes patients don’t have any heart issues during their treatment period. But those who have type-2 diabetes need to be concerned about their heart, kidney, and liver. These type-2 patients can’t tolerate the slightest high sugar level because it hardens the blood vessels, especially the arteries, leading to heart diseases.
And the worst situation is heart stroke due to too much low-density lipid (LDL) and artery blockage. A person with diabetes should seek medications with cardiovascular benefits so that heart failure and diabetes treatment can continue side by side.
What Are the Diabetes Medications That Help With CVD?
Suppose you have diabetes. So, as a patient, you have to know which diabetic medication will prove beneficial to you and which won’t.
There are basically two classes of drugs that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has approved: Glucagon-Like Peptide-1-Receptor Agonist (GLP-1-RA) and Sodium-Glucose Co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2).
Some renowned brands produce these two types of drugs. Jardiance, Ozempic, Victoza, Metformin, and Trulicity are the most effective cardioprotective drugs examples from those brands.
Jardiance
This medication contains empagliflozin, which is a medicine to control type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk because of diabetes. Jardiance is basically the brand name.
Doctors prescribe this medicine along with exercise and diet to treat diabetic patients who have type-2. Even professionals suggest its use instead of Metformin. But they also recommend using it along with Metformin and insulin to increase the effect of the medicine.
Doctors recommend a dose of about 10 milligrams once a day. It’s better to take the amount in the morning. Doctors can sometimes increase the dosage up to 25 milligrams gradually based on the condition of the patient.
According to some statistics, this drug can reduce cardiovascular death, non-fatal strokes, and non-fatal heart attacks by 14%. That’s why it is one of the best diabetes medications for heart failure.
Also Learn about Diabetes medications that cause weight loss
How Does Medicine Work?
Jardiance works by stopping or inhibiting the action of SGLT-2 inside the proximal tubules of the kidneys.
As empagliflozin inhibits the mechanism of SGLT-2, it has a direct effect on renal reabsorption. So, the absorption of glucose gradually decreases, and the glucose excretion from urinary growth increases.
Side Effects
Despite such benefits, it has some side effects that can’t be overlooked. The first problem you will face is dehydration. If you have a kidney problem, you’ll face low blood pressure. Or, if you are older than 60 to 65 years, you may have dehydration after taking the Jardiance.
Ketoacidosis, urinary tract infections, yeast infection in reproductive regions (vagina, penis) are other serious side effects of Jardiance.
You can also try natural supplements like Strictiond, less side effects have both benefits.
Ozempic
The generic name of Ozempic is Semaglutide. Doctors also prescribe it along with exercise and diet that helps to keep the blood sugar level in control. This medicine is a comparatively newer antidiabetic drugs list that also has cardiovascular benefits.
It has a significant impact on reducing the possibility of severe cardiovascular events. For example, minor heart attacks, strokes, or even death from cardiac disease can be reduced with this type-2 diabetic medication.
You can use this medicine instead of insulin because of its effect on sugar metabolism. Effect in long-duration is another reason for approving such drugs for diabetes and COD treatment.
Just 1 milligram of semaglutide once a week is enough for its action. But it would be better if the dose starts with 0.5 milligrams per dose. Though the Ozempic lowers the blood sugar level, it can cause you to lose some weight. But you can’t use it only for weight loss purposes.
How Does Medicine Work?
Semaglutide is a part of the class GLP-1-RA. This type of receptor increases insulin production. When insulin production gets higher, it reduces the blood sugar level.
We all know that there are beta cells in the pancreas that enhance insulin production. So, the Semaglutide enhances the growth of these cells. It also has a role in inhibiting the Glucagon hormone, which is responsible for increasing blood sugar levels.
The medicine reduces the digestion speed of your stomach so that your body reduces less fat and you lose weight.
Side Effects
Before we get to the side effects, you need to know that Semaglutide is banned for those who have medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). That’s because, with these diseases, Semaglutide usage may lead you to thyroid tumors.
However, there are other side effects like hypoglycemia, allergic reactions, and kidney problems. You may also feel inflammation or severe pain in your pancreas.
Victoza
Victoza’s generic name is Liraglutide. It is a prescribed medicine that treats diabetes and CVDs. Most people often confuse Victoza with insulin. But it’s not any kind of insulin.
However, it has excellent efficiency in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases because of diabetes. This anti-diabetic medicine can also help control obesity.
In the list from cardioprotective drugs pdf, the Liraglutide is less preferable to patients. That’s because another medicine provides better protection than liraglutide.
Some doctors suggest taking Metformin instead of Liraglutide. But in the long run, it provides a kind of shield to your heart to stay away from heart diseases due to diabetes.
The dosage of Liraglutide is 0.6 milligram per day in a single injection. But for adults, the dose may increase to 1.2 milligrams per day after the first dose.
How Does Medicine Work?
Mainly it’s from the GLP-1 class that acts as the receptor agonist. Victoza increases the intracellular cyclic AMP. And the important thing about it is that APM helps release insulin in the presence of increased glucose concentration.
Side Effects
If you have any problem with the kidney or pancreas, you should skip this medicine. That’s because it can cause pancreatitis, which is basically the inflammation in the pancreas or kidney problem.
Allergic reactions, gallbladder problems, weakness, vomiting are also the symptoms of side effects of Victoza.
Metformin
Metformin is a prevalent medicine for diabetic treatment and CVDs. According to experts, it should be consumed along with exercise and diet programs.
Not only does it reduce the blood sugar level, but it also reduces the risks of cardiovascular diseases. So, Metformin is considered the first-line medication for cardiovascular medications.
This medicine needs to be taken with your mouth after having your meal. That’s why the doctor suggests taking one to three doses per day according to the patient’s condition. But initially, one dose per day is enough.
Metformin directly affects the lipid of your body and your stomach to slow down digestion. That’s how it controls your weight gain.
How Does Medicine Work?
Metformin works in three major ways in your body.
It increases the sensitivity to insulin of your body so that your body can produce more insulin naturally. That’s why it also works as an insulin sanitizer.
The medicine also reduces the sugar absorption from your intestine and ensures a lower sugar level in your bloodstream.
You should also know that your liver naturally produces sugar. It stops sugar production to improve sugar control.
Side Effects
The initial side effects due to Metformin are vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, weakness, and metallic taste.
But the issue gets serious when you get a higher dose. It can imbalance the lipid level of your body. That’s why this diabetic medication is contraindicated in heart failure.
Trulicity
Trulicity also goes by its generic name Dulaglutide. It’s another non-insulin option for your body that helps to increase insulin production within your body.
The medicine helps blood vessels maintain lower lipid levels so that arteries don’t get blocked. This way, the possibility of major cardiovascular events such as heart failure and minor strokes reduces quite significantly. The blood sugar level gets in control because of Dulaglutide.
Trulicity has a long-term effect on your body. That’s why the doctors suggest a dose of about 0.75 milligrams once a week. But if there’s a problem with glycemic control, the doctors increase the amounts from 1.5 milligrams to 3 milligrams.
Though it doesn’t have alkylating agents, it works effectively on those who have type-2 diabetes.
How Does Medicine Work?
Dulaglutide acts as an analog to GLP-1, which is an Incretin hormone. It works automatically, like when the glucose level decreases, it increases insulin secretion.
On the other hand, it also decreases glucagon secretion, which can easily delay gastric secretion and keep the postprandial glucose level low.
Side Effects
The most life-threatening side effect of this medicine is thyroid cancer. If you use the medicine at such an excess level without absolute necessity, you may end up in chemotherapy because of cardioprotective drugs. But the risk is very rare.
The other side effects are allergic reaction, hypoglycemia, stomachaches, pancreatitis, etc. However, if you follow the doctor’s instructions correctly, you won’t have to face such side effects.
Antioxidants Can Also Help!
Some antioxidants are also beneficial to a type-2 diabetic patient who might have cardiovascular events.
According to numerous researchers, carotenoids are much helpful to diabetes patients. Colorful vegetables and fruits contain a lot of antioxidants and carotenoids. Those people who eat a lot of colorful fruits are at a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Some other antioxidants like vitamins (B1, B2, B6, B12), alpha-lipoic acid, and glutathione play a significant role in reducing CVD risks.
Bottom Line
Diabetes is a disease that can lead you to many other illnesses, and cardiovascular diseases are on the top of that list. That’s why you need to find diabetes medications with cardiovascular benefits.
Hopefully, our suggestion on those diabetic medications has proved considerable. So, maintain these medicines to avoid major CVD events. And don’t forget to consult your doctor or health professional every month for a regular checkup. Stay healthy!Read Also: Nerve Renew Reviews – is diabetic neuropathy reversible??
