FDA: Flesh-eating genital infection linked to diabetes medications

Some diabetes medication may cause a flesh-eating bacterial infection, according to the Food and Drug Administration. In most cases the drugs have caused these infections in genitals.

Fournier’s gangrene has been reported in medicines that contain sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors.

Those types of medications are primarily used to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes, according to FDA officials.

Fournier’s gangrene is rare but life-threatening once it is under the skin and surrounding muscles, nerves, fats, and blood vessels.

The FDA reported there were 12 cases of the infection in five years. The patients were hospitalized and required surgery. One patient died from the infection.

The FDA recommends discontinuing the SGLT2 inhibitor, closely monitoring blood glucose levels, and of course calling a doctor.

Take caution if your medication is on this list:

• Invokana
• Invokamet
• Invokamet XR
• Farxiga
• Xigduo XR
• Qtern
• Jardiance
• Glyxambi
• Synjardy
• Synjardy XR
• Steglatro
• Segluromet
• Steglujan