A Potent, Fascinating New Drug

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 9:41 am

As I tell my friends I run, basically, on about a dozen drugs and a lithium battery. I rarely discuss any medication and have never done so here before. But my endocrinologist put me on a new, just approved by the FDA, drug right before Christmas, assuring me that I would see dramatic results in a few days and was he ever right.

Like too many Americans I have Type II diabetes and my lifestyle - eating all meals in restaurants - makes control of blood sugar more difficult than for those sedentary creatures who consume their meals in the more controlled home environment.

The new medication is JANUVIA. It works on the metabolism - I don't really understand how - but a 100mg. tablet every evening has caused my morning blood sugar count to drop below 100 (from a previous average of much, much higher) and basically stay that way all day.

My M.D. is a sardonic character not given to overstatement but he was virtually rhapsodic when talking to me about Januvia.

There's a lot of data on the Web. If you know anyone with this medical problem - and who doesn't these days - pass this on.

This post is not intended to provide medical advice. A physician should be consulted to discuss any medication option.

living_stradivarius · Post by **living_stradivarius** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 4:24 pm

Januvia is an oral dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

DPP-4 inhibitors work by enhancing a natural body system that lowers blood sugar, the incretin system. When blood sugar is elevated, incretins work in two ways to help the body regulate high blood sugar levels: they trigger the pancreas to increase insulin and signal the liver to stop producing glucose. DPP-4 inhibitors enhance the body's own ability to control blood sugar levels by increasing the active levels of these incretin hormones in the body, helping to decrease blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

http://www.drugs.com/nda/januvia_060215.html

jbuck919 · Post by **jbuck919** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 5:06 pm

living_stradivarius wrote:Januvia is an oral dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

DPP-4 inhibitors work by enhancing a natural body system that lowers blood sugar, the incretin system. When blood sugar is elevated, incretins work in two ways to help the body regulate high blood sugar levels: they trigger the pancreas to increase insulin and signal the liver to stop producing glucose. DPP-4 inhibitors enhance the body's own ability to control blood sugar levels by increasing the active levels of these incretin hormones in the body, helping to decrease blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

http://www.drugs.com/nda/januvia_060215.html

This will doubtless double the business of all the Indian and Chinese buffets in Manhattan when it is posted outside.

Seriously, Ralph, I'm very happy for you. I can attest that you have great taste in the kind of food that's both practical and delicious, not to mention varied, when one eats out all the time. Sometimes I envy you the opportunity to do it that way. I would not have wanted your pleasure in this to be diminished.

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 5:10 pm

jbuck919 wrote:
living_stradivarius wrote:Januvia is an oral dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

DPP-4 inhibitors work by enhancing a natural body system that lowers blood sugar, the incretin system. When blood sugar is elevated, incretins work in two ways to help the body regulate high blood sugar levels: they trigger the pancreas to increase insulin and signal the liver to stop producing glucose. DPP-4 inhibitors enhance the body's own ability to control blood sugar levels by increasing the active levels of these incretin hormones in the body, helping to decrease blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

http://www.drugs.com/nda/januvia_060215.html
This will doubtless double the business of all the Indian and Chinese buffets in Manhattan when it is posted outside.

Seriously, Ralph, I'm very happy for you. I can attest that you have great taste in the kind of food that's both practical and delicious, not to mention varied, when one eats out all the time. Sometimes I envy you the opportunity to do it that way. I would not have wanted your pleasure in this to be diminished.

*****

Oh I assure you. I haven't allowed anything to diminish my gustatory adventures. This new drug simply avoid, or more likely delays indefinitely, paying the piper.

Post by **Corlyss_D** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 6:49 pm

living_stradivarius wrote: oral dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor

That's easy for YOU to say!

BTW, Ralph, after you discovered you had diabetes that went undiagnosed for some period of time, I hied myself to my doc and got tested because I'd gained so much weight after moving here. I got a cardiac stress test too. Your encounter led me to get myself checked out. Thanks for the early warning.

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 8:49 pm

Corlyss_D wrote:
living_stradivarius wrote: oral dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor
That's easy for YOU to say!

BTW, Ralph, after you discovered you had diabetes that went undiagnosed for some period of time, I hied myself to my doc and got tested because I'd gained so much weight after moving here. I got a cardiac stress test too. Your encounter led me to get myself checked out. Thanks for the early warning.

******

Thanks for sharing that information. It makes me happy to know you got a checkup AND that you're okay.

lmpower · Post by **lmpower** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 1:52 pm

It's nice to know that Merck can do something right after the vioxx debacle.

Ted · Post by **Ted** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 1:59 pm

That's great news Ralph!

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A Potent, Fascinating New Drug

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