Approaching to DM2 through sodium-glucose cotransporter-2: does it make sense?

The kidney is involved in glucose homeostasis through three main mechanisms: renal gluconeogenesis, renal glucose consumption and glucose reabsorption in the proximal tubule. Glucose reabsorption is one of the most relevant physiological functions of the kidney, through which filtered glucose is fully recovered, urine is free of glucose, and calorie loss is prevented. Approximately 90% of the glucose is reabsorbed in the S1 segment of the proximal tubule, where GLUT2 and SGLT2 transporters are located, while the remaining 10% is reabsorbed in the S3 segment by SGLT1 and GLUT1 transporters. In patients with hyperglycaemia, the kidney continues reabsorbing glucose, and hyperglycaemia is maintained. Most renal glucose reabsorption is mediated by the SGLT2 transporter. Several experimental and clinical studies suggest that pharmacological blockade of this transporter might be beneficial in the management of hyperglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes.