Januvia is an oral medication that is primarily used for the treatment of type 2, or non-insulin-dependent diabetes. In common adult-onset condition, the body is unable to produce enough insulin or becomes insensitive to it. Insulin is required to transport dietary glucose or sugar from foods into the cells of the body, where it can be used for energy. Thus, diabetes results in excess glucose in the blood. Januvia aims to help the body produce more insulin and decrease the amount of glucose that is released into the blood by the liver.
Step 1
Schedule an appointment with your family doctor to discuss diabetes. Get an in-clinic and lab blood test to determine the diagnosis if it has not yet been confirmed. Discuss Januvia with your doctor to determine if it is the right medication for you. It may be used in combination with other medications for diabetes.
Step 2
Fill the Januvia prescription and begin taking it exactly as prescribed by your doctor. According to information from the manufacturer, this medication enhances the body's own ability to control blood glucose levels and should be used in addition to careful nutrition and exercise maintenance of type 2 diabetes.
Step 3
Take Januvia once a day as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take a larger or smaller dose of this medication or for a longer duration than prescribed. The recommended dose of Januvia is 100 mg once a day, and it can be taken with or without food, advises the website Drugs.com.
Step 4
See your doctor for a follow-up appointment on a monthly basis to monitor your diabetes treatment. Your doctor might change your dose of Januvia medication or prescribe additional treatments.
Tips and Warnings
- According to the manufacturer, Januvia does not cause hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, because it stops working before blood glucose dips too low. However, taking this medication with other drugs, or not consuming an adequate diet can lead to hypoglycemia. Discuss a balanced diabetic meal plan with your doctor or dietitian. When Januvia is used with sulfonylurea drugs, hypoglycemia can occur. To avoid this risk, your doctor might prescribe lower doses of the sulfonylurea.
- Drugs.com warns that Januvia should not be used by patients with type 1 diabetes, diabetic ketoacidosis, kidney disease, pancreatitis and by females who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Things You'll Need
- Blood test
- Januvia medication
