The JAK inhibitors (janus kinase inhibitors) baricitinib and tofacitinib may have a glucose-lowering effect in patients with diabetes mellitus. As a result, patients sometimes have to adjust the diabetes medication.
A total of 32 reports of reduced glucose levels with tofacitinib and baricitinib were received in Europe, three of which were in the Netherlands. Patients were taking the medication for a rheumatic disease and also had diabetes. All reports showed a decreased or even too low glucose level in the blood after starting the JAK inhibitor. Sometimes the dosage of diabetes medication had to be reduced as a result. The dose of diabetes medication also had to be increased again after the JAK inhibitor was discontinued.
JAK inhibitors are used in rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic inflammatory diseases such as psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis and atopic eczema. The research was presented during the online rheumatology congress EULAR. View the poster of the EULAR Congress here (in English)
Source: Lareb and EULAR
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