Influence of baseline HbA1c, BMI, β-cell function and insulin sensitivity on the treatment response of empagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes

Objective: Empagliflozin, a potent, selective sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, inhibits renal glucose reabsorption, leading to glucosuria and improved fasting and postprandial glucose. Due to its renal mechanism of action, we hypothesized that glucose lowering with empagliflozin is independent of β-cell function and insulin resistance. Methods: Using pooled data from three 24-week trials that investigated empagliflozin 10 mg (n = 632) and empagliflozin 25 mg (n = 626) vs. placebo (n = 622) as monotherapy or add-on to metformin or metformin plus sulfonylurea, we investigated the influence of baseline HbA…