Objective: To investigate the effects of dapagliflozin on insulin sensitivity and serum glypican-4 (GPC-4) levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: Eighty patients with T2DM were treated with dapagliflozin for 12 weeks

and the changes of blood glucose

blood lipid

insulin sensitivity and serum GPC-4 level were observed by an ELISA kit. Forty healthy subjects were taken as normal glucose control (NGT). Results: Serum GPC-4 levels were lower in T2DM (5.05±0.98) group than in NGT group (6.42±0.51) (P=0.000). Dapagliflozin increased serum GPC-4 levels in T2DM group (P=0.000)

accompanied with decreases in blood glucose levels (P=0.000)

HbA1c (P=0.000) and HOMA-IR (P=0.000). HbA1c (β=-0.608

P=0.000) and 1/HOMAIR (β=-2.566

P=0.003) were independent influencing factors of serum GPC-4 in T2DM patients. Elevation in serum GPC-4 levels were correlated positively with reduces in HbA1c (r=0.397

P=0.002)

but no associations with decline in HOMA-IR (r=-0.062

P=0.539). Conclusion: Dapagliflozin therapy can decrease blood glucose levels

improve insulin sensitivity and increase GPC-4 levels for T2DM patients

and its effects on the serum GPC-4 level may be correlated with glucose control

but have no association with insulin sensitivity improvement.