When diabetes is out of control, it means your blood sugar (blood glucose) is too high. Type 2 diabetes may not make you feel sick. But even if you have no symptoms, controlling your blood sugar is the right thing to do. That’s because high blood sugar can lead to serious problems over time. Good blood sugar control means lowering your blood sugar levels to the target range your doctor recommends and keeping them there.
When your blood sugar is not controlled, too much sugar stays in your blood for a long time. That can damage blood vessels and nerves. This damage can cause:
Over many years, high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) can lead to serious problems. Kidney disease can lead to kidney failure and the need for dialysis. Blood vessel damage in the eyes can lead to blindness . Nerve damage in the feet can lead to the need for amputation. And heart disease can lead to death. Heart disease is, in fact, the number 1 cause of death in people with diabetes.
You may not want to think about these possibilities—no one really wants to. But the good news is that you can help avoid these problems by taking good care of your diabetes. This means taking steps to keep your blood sugar level at a healthy balance.
JANUVIA, taken once daily, is a prescription medicine used along with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes.
JANUVIA is not approved to treat the serious problems that may result from high blood sugar.
JANUVIA (jah-NEW-vee-ah) is a once-daily prescription pill that, along with diet and exercise, helps lower blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Important Information About JANUVIA
JANUVIA has not been studied with insulin and should not be used to treat patients with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis (increased ketones in the blood or urine) or used if you are allergic to JANUVIA. Your doctor may perform blood tests from time to time to measure how well your kidneys are working. If you have kidney problems, your doctor may prescribe lower doses of JANUVIA.
When JANUVIA is used with a sulfonylurea, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can occur. To avoid this risk, your doctor may prescribe lower doses of the sulfonylurea.
Allergic reactions, which may be serious, including rash, hives, and swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and throat that may cause difficulty breathing or swallowing, can occur. If you have an allergic reaction, stop taking JANUVIA and call your doctor right away. The most common side effects include upper respiratory tract infection, stuffy or runny nose and sore throat, and headache.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
JANUVIA is a registered trademark and Steps to Balance is a trademark of Merck & Co., Inc.
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