SGLT2 inhibiting compounds are provided having the formula where R1, R2, and R2aare independently hydrogen, OH, OR5, lower alkyl, CF3, OCHF2, OCF3, SR5ior halogen, or two of R1, R2and R2atogether with the carbons to which they are attached can form an annelated five, six or seven membered carbocycle or heterocycle; R3and R4are independently hydrogen, OH, OR5a, OAryl, OCH2Aryl, lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, CF3, —OCHF2, —OCF3, halogen, —CN, —CO2R5b, —CO2H, —COR6b, —CH(OH)R6c, —CH(OR5h)R6d, —CONR6R6a, —NHCOR5c, —NHSO2R5d, —NHSO2Aryl, Aryl, —SR5e, —SOR5f, —SO2R5g, —SO2Aryl, or a five, six or seven membered heterocycle, or R3and R4together with the carbons to which they are attached form an annelated five, six or seven membered carbocycle or heterocycle; R5, R5a, R5b, R5c, R5d, R5e, R5f, R5g, R5hand R5iare independently lower alkyl; R6, R6a, R6b, R6cand R6dare independently hydrogen, alkyl,aryl, alkylaryl or cycloalkyl, or R6and R6atogether with the nitrogen to which they are attached form an annelated five, six or seven membered heterocycle; A is O, S, NH, or (CH2)nwhere n is 0-3. A method is also provided for treating diabetes and related diseases employing an SGLT2 inhibiting amount of the above compound alone or in combination with another antidiabetic agent or other therapeutic agent.