SGLT2 inhibitor use linked to better recovery after thrombectomy in diabetic stroke patients
A study published in the journal Stroke suggests that diabetic patients who take SGLT2 inhibitors after undergoing thrombectomy for ischemic stroke have a higher rate of independent living. Researchers found a nearly 20-percentage-point improvement in recovery outcomes for those on the medication.
Why it matters
This finding could change clinical protocols for stroke rehabilitation in diabetic patients, potentially improving long-term quality of life.
By Hae-ri Lim / HealthKoreaNews SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 16, 2026 - For patients with diabetes who are left with disabilities even after a procedure to reopen blocked blood vessels in the brain, a commonly used diabetes medication may offer a new avenue for recovery. A study found that ischemic stroke patients prescribed SGLT2 inhibitors after undergoing endovascular thrombectomy had a nearly 20-percentage-point higher rate of independent living three months later than those who were not prescribed the drugs.
Researchers from Seoul National University Hospital and Asan Medical Center, together with collaborators in Italy and Switzerland, analyzed 429 patients with diabetes who underwent endovascular thrombectomy at four comprehensive stroke centers between January 2020 and March 2025.
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