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Sitagliptin and Metformin a Useful Combo For Type 2s
A recent study has found that the combination of metformin and sitagliptin lowers A1c's better than either drug alone, apparently because their different mechanisms work together synergistically.
Sitagliptin (Januvia) is a DPP-4 inhibitor; that is, it helps prevent DPP-4 from inactivating GLP-1, a gut hormone that regulates blood glucose. (For a lesson on how that works, see "The Incretin Saga: Mimetics, Enhancers, and Inhibitors".) Metformin (Glucophage) is an older drug that reduces the amount of glucose synthesized by the liver, decreases the absorption of glucose from the gastrointestinal tract, and increases insulin sensitivity.
The study examined 1,091 people with type 2 diabetes who were divided into four groups: sitagliptin plus metformin, sitagliptin alone, metformin alone, or a placebo. Their average starting A1c was 8.8%. After the 24-week study, 66 percent of the combo group had an A1c of less than 7%, and 44 percent of them had dropped to 6.5%.
The single drug groups also experienced improvement, but significantly less than the combo group. The incidence of hypoglycemia in the combo group was about the same as that of the placebo group.
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Sources: Medline Plus; Diabetes Care, August 2007
Categories: A1c Test, Blood Glucose, Diabetes, Diabetes, Insulin, Low Blood Sugar, Medications, Metformin, Professional Issues, Type 2 Issues, Type 2 Medications
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Diabetes Health is the essential resource for people living with diabetes- both newly diagnosed and experienced as well as the professionals who care for them. We provide balanced expert news and information on living healthfully with diabetes. Each issue includes cutting-edge editorial coverage of new products, research, treatment options, and meaningful lifestyle issues.
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Topics
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- Type 1 / 1.5 Diabetes
- Type 2 Diabetes
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- High/Low Blood Sugar / Fast Acting Glucose
- Insulin- Pumps, Pens & Syringes
- Continuous Glucose Monitors, CGM, Infusion Sets
- Type 2 Medications
- Hyperglycemia
- Hypoglycemia
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