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Sitagliptin (Januvia) Lowers Blood Sugar in People With Type 1 Diabetes
Sitagliptin (Januvia) has long been used to reduce blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, but a new study indicates that it can do the same for those with type 1 diabetes. Sitagliptin is a DPP-4 inhibitor; that is, it inhibits, or temporarily prevents, the enzyme DPP-4 from destroying a helpful hormone called GLP-1. GLP-1, which is released by the gut when food arrives there from the stomach, lowers blood sugar by causing the release of insulin, reducing the secretion of glucagon, and slowing stomach emptying and nutrient absorption.
Unfortunately, GLP-1 is broken down by DPP-4 after only about a minute of beneficial action. Because GLP-1 could lower blood sugar a lot more if DPP-4 weren't so efficient at destroying it, a DPP-4 inhibitor such as sitagliptin comes in very handy for people with type 2 diabetes. Until now, however, it has not been tested in people with type 1 diabetes.
Now, a small pilot study conducted by Satish Garg, MD, of the University of Colorado, has found that sitagliptin lowers blood sugar in inadequately controlled type 1s as well. The 20 type 1 subjects were given 100 mg of sitagliptin daily or a placebo for four weeks, then switched to the alternate treatment for four more weeks. The sitagliptin lowered their mean blood glucose by about 12 mg/dL and their A1Cs by 0.27%, and they were able to cut their insulin dose by nearly 10 percent during the treatment period.
Dr. Garg plans to firm up his findings with a four-month multicenter study of sitagliptin in 120 type 1 patients.
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Categories: A1c Test, Blood Glucose, Blood Sugar, Diabetes, Diabetes, Food, Insulin, Medications, Medications Research, Type 1 Issues, Type 2 Issues, Type 2 Medications
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Jan 7, 2011
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Diabetes Health
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
- Diabetic / Diabetes Health
- Type 1 / 1.5 Diabetes
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Blood Glucose / Sugar
- 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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