Is Januvia Insulin

is januvia insulin

Coming to grips with a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis isn’t as bad as being faced with other diseases, but it does mean that you are going to have to be much more mindful of your blood sugar levels every day for the long foreseeable future. Again, that’s not the worst thing but you are going to have to be diligent about taking medication to lower your blood sugar as well as making diet and exercise level changes if you’re really committed to keeping your diabetes in check. Januvia is a Type 2 diabetes treatment medication, but it’s taken orally and not as an injection. So, is Januvia insulin? No, it’s not.

We obviously know that the answer to what is Januvia used for is Type 2 diabetes treatment, but if Januvia isn’t insulin, then how is it that the medication is effective for preventing blood sugar spikes? As you’d likely guess, we have the answer to that. Is Januvia insulin? Most diabetics will take insulin injections, but Januvia is different. It is part of a new class of medications for Type 2 diabetes treatment called DPP-4 inhibitors and that leads to how Januvia works.

That can be a bit of a pharmacological / physiological doozy of an explanation, but we’ll just describe it briefly with this continued look at is Januvia insulin. It counters alpha and beta cell dysfunction that causes reduced insulin production by the kidneys and increased glucose (sugar) by the liver. Between both you’ve got less blood sugar to deal with, and there’s more insulin available to be taking what sugar there is and funneling it into cells for energy rather than leaving it to float in the bloodstream.

More like Metformin

The difference between Metformin and insulin will by and large apply to Januvia too. Metformin is different from Januvia, and it is likely the most prescribed oral Type 2 diabetes treatment pill. Determining is Januvia insulin, we know that it is not and that it has much more in common with Metformin and other oral diabetes meds. Much of this will fit into a discussion of pill vs insulin for diabetes treatment.

DPP-4 inhibitors like Januvia are a little different in that they lower blood sugar levels a little less prominently than other oral diabetes treatment pills, and as such it’s more likely that Januvia will be prescribed for someone who only have mildly elevated blood sugar levels as a Type 2 diabetic. That is not an uncommon scenario for many people, but if they fail to adapt to their new diabetes treatment regimen it’s entirely possible that they’ll need to start injecting insulin in the future.

The risk with that can be that some people don’t do well with regular needle use, and anyone who is prone to lipodystrophy will tell you about that. Is Januvia insulin, it’s not but for many people it can be the better choice, and there are more reasons than one why that might be the case.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The above information is intended to increase awareness of health information and does not suggest treatment or diagnosis. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.

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