Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have a high or very high 
cardiovascular risk. The clinical practice guidelines focus on the need to 
achieve optimal glycemic control, and strategies for a multifactorial 
therapeutic approach have shown significant cardiovascular benefits in these 
patients. Inhibitors of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT-2) are a new class 
of orally administered drugs in the treatment of T2DM, which act by inhibiting 
reabsorption of glucose in the renal proximal tubule with consequent glycosuric 
effect and lowering of blood glucose. Dapagliflozin, SGLT-2 inhibitor marketed 
in Europe and Australia, has been shown to achieve glycosylated hemoglobin 
reductions similar to other oral agents, as well as beneficial effects on major 
comorbidities associated with T2DM. Therefore, it is considered of interest to 
review the clinical efficacy of this new oral hypoglycemic on glycemic control, 
risk of hypoglycemia, and its impact on body weight, blood pressure, lipid 
profile and renal function.