Sugar is indeed sweet and makes everyone feel happy but we all can agree that too much of anything, which means including sugar can be bad. A person with high blood sugar is known as hyperglycaemia. Hyperglycemia that goes unnoticed and untreated will certainly predispose into diabetes. Diabetes is a metabolic disease that often runs for a lifetime once a person is diagnosed with the disease. It is a disease that is characterised by the inability of pancreas to produce insulin or the insulin is not utilised effectively by the body. Insulin is a hormone in the body that maintains the blood sugar level. It works by enabling the cell metabolism to use sugar or glucose from food to become energy. This energy will be used by the body’s cell to perform its function.
The question now is, Janumet 50-500 mg as an antidiabetic medication, is an insulin? No, Janumet is not an insulin. Janumet contains metformin and sitagliptin. These two active ingredients work together to help patients control blood sugar level. Metformin belongs to a class of drugs named as biguanide whereas sitagliptin belongs to a class of drugs named as dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. Biguanide works by lowering the amount of glucose produced by the liver and improving the body’s response towards insulin whereas DPP-4 inhibitors work by inhibiting the breakdown of GLP-1 and prolonging the action of GLP-1 to increase insulin production in the pancreas. In short, both metformin and sitagliptin reduce the amount of sugar produced by the liver. These will lower the blood sugar level efficiently compared to metformin action alone.
Janumet is typically prescribed for patients with type 2 diabetes that is not well controlled by one type of antidiabetic drug. Antidiabetic medication is usually given as the last solution after lifestyle changes such as diet and active exercise fail to control blood sugar level as recommended by the doctor. Janumet is typically given when metformin or sitagliptin alone is unable to control a patient’s blood sugar. Hence, combination of the two types of drugs makes Janumet stronger than metformin.
Dosage of Janumet is often individualised and based on the patient’s targeted blood sugar level or the patient’s response towards the antidiabetic drugs. The general recommendation is 2 times a day after meals. This medicine should be taken as a whole and to avoid splitting or dividing it. When it is not taken as a whole, the efficacy of the drug may be less than what is expected as the fixated dose is not fixed as intended to by the manufacturer and doctor. Patients may be receiving Janumet apart from diabetes as the medical conditions and the dosage may be different than what it is recommended here. Always ask the doctor if the patient feels unsure on why they received it differently.
Janumet is an immediate-release medication. When a person takes this medicine, the medicine is immediately released in the body and works almost instantly. However, although it has been claimed to work rapidly, the full effect from Janumet may take up to a few weeks before it has a visible effect on lowering the blood sugar level. Some patients might feel improvement of symptoms within 4-5 days following consumption of the medication. Patients need to take the medication regularly to achieve the full effect from the medicine. Taking it at the same time of the day can help patients remember to take it regularly and help the drug to work in the body maximally.
Janumet does have potential side effects. Commons side effects include headache, nausea, diarrhoea and upper respiratory infection. Worsening side effects should be notified to doctors and patients should not stop taking the medication unless instructed otherwise. This medication typically does not cause patients to experience hypoglycemia. Hypoglycaemia is characterised by shaking, dizziness, hunger and sweating. However, hypoglycaemia may occur if a patient takes this medication with a combination of other antidiabetic medications, after heavy physical activity or not eating enough calories for the day. It is advisable for patients to always bring glucose tablets or sweets within hand reach at all times. Patients should also make sure to have proper meals regularly throughout the day to avoid risk for hypoglycemia. After a hypoglycemic event, the patient should let their doctor know so that doctors can re-evaluate and advise on what is best for the patient.
JANUMET is a good medicine for diabetes as it contains two active ingredients. This means the medicine works better than taking only one of the active ingredients. This also means it is more efficient for patients to be taking it at one go everyday at the same time of the day. There is no doubt that antidiabetic medicine helps patients to get a better control of their sugar level and improve their HbA1C level. Despite the fact that Janumet is considered to be medicine that works immediately, taking it regularly is the best way to ensure patients get its full benefits.
