Reducing the risk of heart failure in diabetes mellitus: review of new therapeutics

ABSTRACT

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and heart failure (HF) are closely related patients with diabetes have an increased risk of developing HF and those with HF are at higher risk of developing diabetes. When the two diseases are considered individually, HF has a much poorer prognosis than diabetes mellitus; therefore, treatment of HF is a priority in these group of patients. There are many drugs now available to achieve glycemic control in individuals with DM. However, as we enter an era of personalization in the management of DM, the next challenge will be the identification of therapeutic strategies that will not only achieve and maintain glycemic control, but that will also reverse existing complications. Given the high prevalence of HF in DM, there is a strong imperative to advance this field, with the view of identifying robust strategies that will not only improve long-term outcomes in subjects with DM and HF but also limit the likelihood of developing HF in the first place. Newer therapies like sodium- glucose transport protein- 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2 I) and sacubitril or valsartan have shown potential benefit for reducing the risk of heart failure in diabetic population. This review will summarize the new therapeutics to reduce the risk of HF in patients with DM.