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Sitagliptin (Oral Route)
Drug Information provided by: MicromedexUS Brand Names
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Description
Sitagliptin is used alone or with other medicines (e.g., insulin, glimepiride, metformin, or pioglitazone) to treat high blood sugar levels caused by type 2 diabetes. Normally, after you eat, your pancreas releases insulin to help your body store excess sugar. In patients with type 2 diabetes, the body does not store the excess sugar and it remains in the bloodstream. Chronic high blood sugar can lead to serious health problems. Maintaining a proper diet is the first step in managing type 2 diabetes, but medicines may also be needed to reduce the blood sugar.
Sitagliptin helps to control blood sugar levels by increasing substances in the body that make the pancreas release more insulin. It also signals the liver to stop producing sugar (glucose) when there is too much sugar in the blood.
Sitagliptin does not help patients who have insulin-dependent or type 1 diabetes, because they do not produce insulin from the pancreas. The high blood sugar is best controlled with insulin injections in these patients.
This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.
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