Invokana is projected to make billions of dollars in sales as the obesity and diabetes market will double by 2022. Invokana is already the most prescribed Type 2 diabetes drug in its class. Now, manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals is pushing for approval for Type 1 diabetes also.
This is troubling since Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are different disorders. Janssen Pharmaceuticals never designed Invokana to treat Type 1 diabetes. Unlike Type 2 diabetes, Type 1 is a genetic condition in which individuals are born with a non-functioning pancreas. The pancreas is the organ that produces insulin. For Type 2 diabetics, individuals have a normal insulin-producing pancreas, however, factors such as obesity, lack of exercise or unhealthy food choices can lead to insulin resistance.
Invokana Risks
Invokana works by using an SGLT-2 inhibitor to expel excess glucose out of the body through urine. Early studies are showing that using an SGLT-2 inhibitor for Type 1 diabetics prevents accurate blood sugar monitoring and increases urinary tract infections. Additionally, this will expose more to deadly ketoacidosis.
Ketoacidosis occurs when the body does not have enough insulin and starts to break down fat for fuel. This causes a buildup of acids in the bloodstream. If left untreated, the condition can be deadly. According to the FDA, there were at least 20 cases of ketoacidosis that required visits to the emergency room or hospitalization along with almost 500 serious adverse events reported in one year.
The FDA has not yet approved Invokana for Type 1 diabetes and hopefully never will.
Contact us today
If you or a loved one experienced an adverse event after taking Invokana, contact the dedicated attorneys at The Michael Brady Lynch Firm, today at 877-513-9517.
