Empagliflozin Reduces Progression of Diabetic Retinopathy in Patients With High Risk of Diabetic Macular Edema

Inclusion Criteria: 1. women and men between 18 - 80 years of age 2. type 2 diabetes mellitus 3. early to moderate stage diabetic retinopathy (ETDRS: 20 (microaneurysms only) to 35 (microaneurysms/ hemorrhages and/or hard exsudates)) in one or both eyes 4. stable HbA1c (± 0.5%) for at least 12 weeks 5. antidiabetic treatment with either diet, metformin, DPP4, GLP1, pioglitazone, acarbose, or respective combinations 6. HbA1c ≥ 6.5 and ≤ 10.0 % 7. body mass index \< 46 kg/m2 8. office blood pressure ≤ 150/95 mmHg (confirmed on a second day; 24h ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM) is allowed to check accuracy of office values; inclusion with 24h mean blood pressure ≤ 145/90 mm Hg is possible); patients with hypertension should be treated according to current treatment guidelines 9. either women without childbearing potential defined by: * at least 6 weeks after surgical sterilization by bilateral tubal ligation or bilateral oophorectomy * hysterectomy * ≥ 50 years and in postmenopausal state \> 1 year * \< 50 years and in postmenopausal state \> 1 year with serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) \> 40 IU/l and serum estrogen \< 30 ng/l or a negative estrogen test, both at screening or women of childbearing potential with a negative serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-hCG) pregnancy test at screening who agree to meet one of the following criteria from the time of screening, during the study and for a period of 4 days following the last administration of study medication: * correct use of one of the following accepted contraception methods: hormonal contraceptives (combined oral contraceptives, implants, transdermal patches, hormonal vaginal devices or injections with prolonged release), intrauterine device (IUD/IUS) or a double barrier method, e.g. condom and occlusive cap (diaphragm or cervical/vault caps) with spermicide (foam, gel, film, cream or suppository) * true abstinence (periodic abstinence and withdrawal are not acceptable methods of contraception) * sexual relationship only with female partners * sterile male partners 10. signed written informed consent and willingness to comply with treatment and follow-up procedures 11. capability of understanding the investigational nature, potential risks and benefits of the clinical trial Exclusion Criteria: 1. Type 1 diabetes 2. uncontrolled diabetes mellitus type 2 with fasting glucose \> 13.3 mmol/l confirmed on a second day 3. known or suspected hypersensitivity to empagliflozin, glimepiride, or any excipients; and / or known or suspected hypersensitivity to sulfonylureas, sulfonamides or SGLT2 inhibitors in general 4. history of multiple severe hypoglycemic episodes within the last two years 5. use of Insulin, SGLT2-inhibitor, sulfonylurea derivate or a glinide within past 3 months 6. clinical significant macular edema in both eyes and indication for intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment for both eyes at screening or baseline visit. Eyes with a small amount of intraretinal or subretinal fluid (seen in OCT) but no need for intravitreal treatment as judged by the investigator (according to current practice patterns) may be included. Eyes with a history of intravitreal treatment of macular edema which do not need ongoing intravitreal treatment at the time of screening may be included. 7. eye diseases or pathologies that prevent clear ophthalmoscopy and evaluation of study parameters, thus not allowing study participation according to the investigator´s judgment, such as (but not only) vitreous hemorrhage, mature cataract, macular pathologies other than diabetic maculopathy 8. history of ketoacidosis or metabolic acidosis 9. use of loop diuretics 10. history of \> 1 urogenital infection/year 11. any history of stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), instable angina pectoris or myocardial infarction within last 3 months prior to baseline visit 12. congestive heart failure New York Heart Association (NYHA) III and IV 13. severe valvular or left ventricular outflow obstruction disease needing intervention; 14. atrial fibrillation/flutter with a mean ventricular response rate at rest \>100 beats per minute 15. chronic lower urinary tract infections (but not simple asymptomatic bacteriuria) 16. eGFR \< 60 ml/min/1,73 m2 (MDRD-formula, confirmed on a second day) 17. chronic diarrhea, any clinical signs of volume depletion or a hematocrit \> 48 % (women) and \> 53 % (men) 18. elevated risk for volume depletion, e.g. history of severe volume depletion that required medical therapy 19. chronic liver disease (including known active hepatitis) and/or screening alanine transaminase (ALT) or aspartate transaminase (AST) \> 3 x upper limit of normal (ULN) (confirmed on a second day) 20. Subjects with known seropositivity to human immunodeficiency virus. 21. acute illness at screening or randomization according to judgement by the investigator or patient 22. drug or alcohol abuse 23. psychosomatic or psychiatric diseases requiring hospitalization during the last 12 months 24. clinical evidence of current malignancy with exception of basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (5 years prior to randomization) 25. any medical or surgical intervention planned for the next 13 months after randomization not allowing study participation according to the investigator´s judgment 26. current participation in any other clinical trial or participation in another clinical trial within 30 days before screening