Medications fall into different classes. There are now many that might be used to tackle Type 2 diabetes. Doctors are more able to personalize treatment plans for their patients as they select between the classes. Two oral options are Jardiance and Januvia. Their generic names are empagliflozin and sitagliptin. Here is a focus on the medications Jardiance vs Januvia. We can see where they are similar and where they are different.
They lower blood sugar levels differently
Jardiance flushes out the glucose from the kidneys. You basically urinate the glucose out of your body. It is effective but does mean patients need to pee more often. Other reasons a doctor might use it are it helps with heart and chronic kidney disease. Our bodies create a hormone that controls your hunger, digestion and blood sugar levels called GLP-1. Having more GLP-1 in your body lowers blood sugar levels. Januvia blocks DPP-4 from being made, which is an enzyme that normally breaks down GLP-1.
There is a difference in what they treat
Januvia is a medication only for adults and just treats type 2 diabetes. As mentioned, Jardiance is not. It has been approved to lower the risk of a heart attack in adults with both heart disease and type 2 diabetes. It has also been approved to lower the dropping of kidney function. In the treatment of type 2 diabetes, it can be used with children from the age of ten and older as well as adults. This means that for people who have type 2 diabetes as well as issues with heart disease and or kidney disease, Jardiance makes sense as a first-choice treatment option. Januvia on the other hand is not commonly a first choice with doctors. It can become a part of a treatment plan after trying other medications first.
Weight loss is another thing to consider
Some type 2 diabetes medications can affect your weight, sometimes a little weight loss, sometimes a gain. Jardiance is one of them. In some cases, it can lead to a person losing some weight, which can be a good thing. A lot of type 2 diabetics need to lose weight. It is usually only a small amount. Januvia does not affect body weight though. While you won’t lose anything you also shouldn’t gain anything.
Conclusion
In the discussion about Jardiance vs Januvia, it is important to talk to your doctor. If you have kidney issues or heart problems they may choose Jardiance is a treatment option for type 2 diabetes. But a lot of people with this condition take more than one prescribed medication to manage it, and it is possible you might even end up taking both! Just keep in mind that along with following your treatment plan, you should also look at eating healthily, incorporating exercise and managing a healthy weight. That kind of approach could even lead to you needing fewer medications or coming off completely, though that should only ever be done with help from your doctor.
