Sitagliptin can help control blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It works by increasing the production of insulin after meals and decreasing the amount of sugar produced by the liver. The medication comes in tablet form and is typically taken once a day. Potential side effects of sitagliptin include headaches, sore throat, and upper respiratory infections.
Sitagliptin (
Januvia®) is a prescription medication that is used to treat
type 2 diabetes (also known as non-insulin-dependent
diabetes or adult-onset diabetes).
Sitagliptin is made by Merck & Co, Inc.
How Does Sitagliptin Work?
Sitagliptin is part of a class of diabetes medications called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. DPP-4 is an enzyme that breaks down incretin hormones. As a DPP-4 inhibitor, sitagliptin slows down the breakdown of incretin hormones, increasing the level of these hormones in the body. It is this increase that is responsible for the beneficial actions of sitagliptin, including increasing insulin production in response to meals and decreasing the amount of glucose (sugar) that the liver produces.
Because incretin hormones are more active in response to higher blood sugar levels (and are less active in response to low blood sugar), the risk of dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is low with sitagliptin.
Several studies have been conducted on the effects of sitagliptin for type 2 diabetes, namely with regards to hemoglobin A1c and blood sugar levels.
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