Patrycja Twardawa

and 9 more

Background and Purpose Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) selective inhibitors (flozins) are a class of antidiabetic drugs that improve glycemic control and have significant cardioprotective effects. The purpose of investigating flozins as adjunct therapy in type 1 diabetes is to explore their potential cardio- and nephroprotective benefits in this high-risk population, especially in light of increasing BMI trends. Experimental Approach This study presents results from a nanomechanical analysis of red blood cells (RBCs) elasticity in patients with type 1 diabetes following monthly dapagliflozin therapy. Measurements were conducted on RBCs obtained from a homogeneous group of 31 adult patients with type 1 diabetes and 14 healthy control volunteers, taking into account individual treatment modalities and metabolic control. The elastic modulus of erythrocytes was measured immediately after sample collection using the nanoindentation method with an atomic force microscopy probe. Key Results A reduction in RBCs stiffness after treatment was observed, dependent on gender and diabetes duration. Notably, the most significant improvement occurred in patients with diabetes duration exceeding 10 years, a group at elevated cardiovascular risk. Conclusion and Implications The observed improvement in the elastic modulus of erythrocytes following dapagliflozin therapy may provide additional rationale for the use of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with type 1 diabetes, extending beyond their established glycemic benefits. Further investigations in patient cohorts with a prolonged course of type 1 diabetes are warranted to validate these findings.