Melbourne man Vasel Trayanovski underwent coronary bypass surgery on five blocked arteries over a decade ago.
Today the 62-year-old says he feels better than he has in the past, despite being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
"I enjoy reading and doing stuff like that, but I can also, physically, I can do a lot more, so I can mow lawns, I can garden, I can go out for walks."
Genetically carried by his parents, Mr Trayonovski was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 35 years ago, and has been insulin-dependent ever since.
Two years ago, he added Jardiance to his treatment, and saw what he said were unexpected results.
"I lost about three kilograms, it's stablising my sugar, which means I don't have as many peaks and troughs, and my blood pressure has gone down a fair bit - about four or five points."
The treatment had been prescribed to lower high blood glucose levels, but following clinical trials it was found to have a radical double duty - prompting it to be listed on the Commonwealth-subsidised Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Melbourne University Endocrinologist, Professor Richard O'Brien, says even researchers were surprised.
"This really is a world first. We haven't had a drug that can lower blood glucose, that also has a substantial reduction in cardiovascular death. We hoped that lowering blood glucose would have a terrific effect on cardiovascular disease, in fact, we know that it reduces eye disease and kidney disease very well, but not a reduction in cardiovascular disease, to date."
The trials across 42 countries, including Australia, found the pills reduced the risk of death from type 2 diabetes for people who had pre-existing cardiovascular disease, by 38 per cent - in some cases within months.
About a million Australians have type two diabetes - a figure that's steadily increasing.
It has a high prevalence in Indigenous communities and some ethnic groups, including from northern Africa, the Middle East, southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands.
Professor O'Brien says more than half of diabetes patients will develop heart disease.
"People need to go to their doctor, make sure that they're cholesterol and blood pressure are controlled, that they don't smoke. But here's something else, that for some people, might be an extra benefit."
For Mr Trayanovski, the results are great news.
"I think it's reassuring because for the first time they're basically dealing with both problems. Because generally the endocrinologists just deal with diabetes, but now they're starting to concentrate on the heart aspects as well."
The subsidised cost of Jardiance is $6.30 with concession, and $38.80 without, per month.
