Examples

Janumet is a combination medicine that contains sitagliptin and metformin.

How It Works

Incretin is a natural hormone that your body makes. It tells your body to release insulin after you eat. Insulin lowers blood sugar.

When your body makes incretin, an enzyme called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) removes it from your body. This is a normal, healthy process for people without diabetes.

Some people with type 2 diabetes do not make enough incretin. This is where DPP-4 inhibitor medicines are helpful. Stopping (inhibiting) DPP-4 helps the incretin that is in the body to stay there longer. This triggers insulin to be released, which lowers blood sugar.

Why It Is Used

These medicines help keep blood sugar in a target range without causing low blood sugar or weight gain.

How Well It Works

Type 2 diabetes is a disease that can get worse over time, so medicines may need to change.

Diabetes medicines work best for people who are being active and eating healthy foods. Studies have suggested that DPP-4 inhibitors lower hemoglobin A1c by 0.5% to 0.8%.¹

Side Effects

All medicines have side effects. But many people don't feel the side effects, or they are able to deal with them. Ask your pharmacist about the side effects of each medicine you take. Side effects are also listed in the information that comes with your medicine.

Here are some important things to think about:

• Usually the benefits of the medicine are more important than any minor side effects.
• Side effects may go away after you take the medicine for a while.
• If side effects still bother you and you wonder if you should keep taking the medicine, call your doctor. He or she may be able to lower your dose or change your medicine. Do not suddenly quit taking your medicine unless your doctor tells you to.

Call 911 or other emergency services right away if you have:

• Trouble breathing.
• Hives.
• Swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Common side effects of this medicine include:

• Signs of an upper respiratory tract infection (stuffy or runny nose and sore throat).
• Signs of a urinary tract infection (pain or burning when you urinate, blood in the urine, and/or fever).
• Any other type of infection.
• A headache.