On March 29, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved canagliflozin to improve glycemic control in adult patients with type 2 diabetes. canagliflozin is a new sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, and is the first drug in the SGLT2 inhibitor class to receive FDA approval. canagliflozin reduces elevated blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes by inhibiting renal reabsorption of glucose and increasing glucose excretion. Nine clinical trials (enrolling more than 10,285 patients) evaluated the safety and efficacy of canagliflozin and showed that canagliflozin improved glycated hemoglobin and fasting glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Studies have been completed on canagliflozin monotherapy and in combination with other hypoglycemic agents, including metformin, sulfonylureas, pioglitazone, and insulin. canagliflozin should not be used in patients with type 1 diabetes, diabetic ketoacidosis, severe kidney injury, end-stage renal disease, or dialysis.