Abstract: Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor is a kind of non insulin-dependent oral antidiabetic medicine. Its target is the kidney. SGLT-2 inhibitors restrain renal reabsorption of glucose so that excessive glucose can be excreted from the urine and the blood sugar is reduced. SGLT-2 inhibitors have definite efficacy on improving blood glucose and lipid level and protecting islet cells without weight gain. The main adverse reactions of SGLT-2 inhibitors are genitourinary tract infection, and ketoacidosis. By searching the medical databases including CNKI, Wanfang, Weipu and PubMed, the development, mechanisms, efficacy and adverse reactions of SGLT-2 selective inhibitors in diabetes mellitus are reviewed, so as to provide reference for clinical rational application of the medications.