Januvia

Januvia is a tablet you take once a day to help lower your blood sugar levels, along with a healthy diet and regular exercise. You can take it by itself (monotherapy) or combine it with other medications like metformin if taking it alone hasn't been enough to keep your blood sugar levels in check.

Januvia is a treatment specifically for type-2 diabetes. This condition typically develops in adults when the body either doesn't produce enough insulin or doesn't use the insulin it produces effectively.

Januvia is a type of medicine known as a DPP-4 inhibitor. It helps your body produce more insulin after meals and reduces the amount of sugar your body makes. It works by stopping the breakdown of 'incretin' hormones, which trigger insulin release when you eat.

By boosting the levels of incretin hormones in your body, your pancreas can produce more insulin for a longer period, helping you to manage the sugar you consume and lower your blood sugar levels. Sitagliptin, the active ingredient in Januvia, also reduces the amount of glucose your liver produces, further aiding in lowering your blood sugar.

Januvia comes in three different doses: 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg. The dose you are prescribed will be based on your specific condition and medical history. Generally, you'll take the 100mg dose once daily, unless you have kidney issues.

There are various types of treatments for diabetes. Usually, you’ll begin with metformin. However, if metformin isn’t right for you or doesn’t effectively manage your blood sugar, you may be given other treatments instead or alongside it.

Various treatments work differently in your body to lower blood sugar levels, and you might find that some are more suitable for you than others. Some treatments, like Victoza or Byetta, are available as injections.

While there are other DPP-4 inhibitors available to help manage your blood sugar, Januvia is unique because it contains only sitagliptin. Therefore, no other treatment will affect your body in exactly the same way as Januvia.

Janumet combines sitagliptin and metformin in one treatment, which can be more convenient if you're prescribed both medications, as it means you won't need to take two separate tablets.