FDA approves a diabetes drug that also helps protect the heart from failure.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a drug called dapagliflozin for adults with type 2 diabetes. This drug, taken as a once-daily pill, has two main uses. It is approved to help lower blood sugar levels along with diet and exercise. It is also approved to reduce the risk of hospitalization for heart failure in patients who have heart disease or are at high risk for it. This approval is for adults with type 2 diabetes. It is specifically for those who have known heart disease or several risk factors for heart problems, where the goal is to protect against heart failure. The drug is not for people with type 1 diabetes. It is also not recommended for controlling blood sugar in patients with more advanced kidney disease, as it may not work well for that purpose in those cases. This approval means doctors now have a medication option that can address two important health concerns for many people with type 2 diabetes: managing blood sugar and protecting heart health. It highlights a growing understanding of the link between diabetes and heart complications. The most important step for any patient is to have an honest conversation with their own doctor. A doctor can review a person's full health history to see if this new option might be a good fit for their individual care plan.