What kind of medicine is Sitagliptin tablets?

Sitagliptin tablets (Sitagliptin) is an oral hypoglycemic drug that belongs to the drug class of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. It is mainly used to treat type 2 diabetes. It is a drug that lowers blood sugar levels by regulating the secretion of insulin and glucagon.

The main ingredient in sitagliptin is sitagliptin phosphate, an orally absorbable form of the drug. Its mechanism of action is to increase the concentration of insulin-like growth factor -1 (IGF-1) and glucagon (GLP-1) in the body by inhibiting the activity of DPP-4enzyme.

1.Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1): IGF-1 is a hormone similar to insulin that promotes the uptake of glucose by cells. By increasing the concentration of IGF-1, sitagliptin can make cells more sensitive to glucose in the blood, helping to lower blood sugar levels.

2.Glucagon (GLP-1): GLP-1 is a hormone produced by the intestine after eating, which can promote the secretion of insulin and inhibit the release of glucagon. By inhibiting the activity of the DPP-4 enzyme, sitagliptin delays the degradation of GLP-1, making it more durable in the body and helping to better regulate blood sugar levels.

When using sitagliptin tablets, it is generally recommended to take it before or with a meal to better coordinate with food intake. The dosage of the drug is usually determined by the doctor based on the patient's specific condition and may be adjusted based on response to treatment.

One of the advantages of sitagliptin tablets is that its oral administration form makes treatment more convenient for patients and is more acceptable to patients than other treatment methods such as insulin injections. In addition, the drug is often used as a monotherapy or in combination with other oral hypoglycemic drugs, insulin, etc., to achieve better blood sugar control.