Short-Term SGLT2 Inhibitor Administration Does Not Alter Systemic Insulin Clearance in Type 2 Diabetes

Background: Decreased insulin clearance could be a relatively upstream abnormality in obesity, metabolic syndrome, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Previous studies have shown that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) increases insulin-C-peptide ratio, a marker of insulin clearance, and improves metabolic parameters. We evaluated the effects of the SGLT2i tofogliflozin on metabolic clearance rate of insulin (MCRI) with a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp study, the gold standard for measuring systemic insulin clearance.

Methods: Study participants were 12 Japanese men with type 2 diabetes. We evaluated MCRI and tissue-specific insulin sensitivity with a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp (insulin infusion rate, 40 mU/m²·min) before and immediately after a single dose (n = 12) and 8 weeks (n = 9) of tofogliflozin. We also measured ectopic fat in muscle and liver and the abdominal fat area using ¹H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging, respectively, before and after 8 weeks of tofogliflozin.

Results: MCRI did not change after a single dose of tofogliflozin (594.7 ± 67.7 mL/min·m² and 608.3 ± 90.9 mL/min·m², p = 0.61) or after 8 weeks (582.5 ± 67.3 mL/min·m² and 602.3 ± 67.0 mL/min·m², p = 0.41). The 8-week treatment significantly improved glycated hemoglobin and decreased body weight (1.7%) and the subcutaneous fat area (6.4%), whereas insulin sensitivity and ectopic fat in muscle and liver did not change significantly.

Conclusions: MCRI did not change after a single dose or 8 weeks of tofogliflozin. Increased MCRI does not precede a decrease in body fat or improved glycemic control.