Scientists from the University of Gothenburg have found that taking tadalafil (an erectile dysfunction drug) can significantly reduce blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Research published in the journal eClinical Medicine.
The study included 18 participants: 12 men and 6 postmenopausal women. Half took high daily doses of tadalafil for six weeks, the other half took a placebo. After an eight-week break, the groups switched places for another six weeks.
Tadalafil did not affect patients’ insulin sensitivity. However, the glycated hemoglobin HbA1c level decreased by an average of 2.50 mmol/mol. This indicator allows you to evaluate the sugar level for a long time, up to several months. Its decrease means that the glucose level in the blood of the study participants is constantly falling.
“The higher the HbA1c value, the higher the risk of complications, including damage to the microvessels of the eyes, kidneys and nerves. “The results of the study are striking but need to be replicated in a larger study and over a longer period of time.”
Because Tadalafil has a number of known side effects (including headache, heartburn, diarrhea, muscle and back pain, low blood pressure, nasal congestion, tinnitus, and blurred vision), it was closely watched by doctors. Scientists noted that self-medication with tadalafil or its analogues is unacceptable and can be life-threatening.