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Sitagliptin + Metformin is a prescription oral antidiabetic medicine used along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus when treatment with both sitagliptin and metformin is appropriate.
- This medicine is not intended for the treatment of type 1 diabetes.
- It should not be used to treat diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) because it is not effective for this condition.
- The medicine has not been adequately studied in people with a previous history of pancreatitis. It is not known whether such patients have a higher risk of developing pancreatitis while taking this medicine.
This combination contains two antidiabetic medicines with complementary mechanisms: Sitagliptin, a DPP-4 inhibitor, and Metformin hydrochloride, a biguanide.
Sitagliptin
Sitagliptin works by inhibiting the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4). This slows the breakdown of incretin hormones such as GLP-1 and GIP, which are naturally released by the intestine, particularly after meals.
By prolonging the activity of these hormones, sitagliptin:
- Increases insulin release from pancreatic beta cells when blood glucose is elevated.
- Reduces glucagon secretion from pancreatic alpha cells.
- Decreases glucose production by the liver.
- Helps improve blood glucose levels in a glucose-dependent manner.
Metformin
Metformin works through mechanisms that differ from those of sitagliptin. It:
- Reduces glucose production by the liver.
- Decreases intestinal absorption of glucose.
- Improves glucose uptake and utilization by peripheral tissues.
Together, sitagliptin and metformin help improve overall glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.