Januvia Uses

Januvia as Part of Diabetes Treatment

The main goal of any diabetes treatment is to lower your blood sugar levels (as measured by your hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c]) enough to reduce your risk of developing problems related to diabetes (see Diabetes Complications).

 

Any type 2 diabetes treatment begins with lifestyle changes (weight loss, a diabetic diet, and exercise). If lifestyle changes alone are not effective at managing diabetes, diabetes medication, such as Januvia, may be necessary. Some diabetes drugs force the pancreas to produce more insulin regardless of blood sugar levels (see Januvia Alternatives). These medications are effective, but can cause dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Because Januvia increases insulin only in response to high blood sugar, the risk of dangerously low blood sugar is low with Januvia (see Januvia and Blood Sugar).

 

In some people, it may be necessary to combine Januvia with other diabetes medicines. Januvia is approved for use in combination with metformin (Fortamet^®, Glucophage^®, Glucophage XR^®, Glumetza^®, and Riomet^®), rosiglitazone (Avandia^®), or pioglitazone (Actos^®).

 

Januvia Use in Children

Januvia has not been adequately studied in children. Discuss the benefits and risks of using Januvia in children with type 2 diabetes.