Hypoglycemia Can be Reduced by Sitagliptin

The diabetes medication sitagliptin seems to decrease the severity of reactive hypoglycemia, a variety of low blood sugar that happens after a meal, a preliminary survey finds. The outcomes will be introduced Sunday at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.

"Further research studies may verify if it is a possibility to use sitagliptin being a novel method of treat this condition, for which here currently is not any health therapy," said command investigator, Francisco Gomez-Perez, MD, of Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion SZ in Mexico City.

Also termed as postprandial hypoglycemia, responsive hypoglycemia can take place in both diabetic and nondiabetic individuals, usually after consuming carbohydrates, or sugars. Signs and symptoms comprise anxiety, heart palpitations, tremor (shakiness), sweating, and giddiness, tingling of the fingers, difficulty concentrating and weakness. Existing treatment that is not always successful entails keeping off high-sugar foods and eating tiny portions during the day, Gomez-Perez said.

The presumed reason behind reactive hypoglycemia serves as a delayed secretion of the hormone insulin for ingested carbohydrates, he said. Insulin is required for the right time to manage the rise in blood sugar that typically follows a meal.

Medical professionals prescribe sitagliptin (marketed as Januvia) to lower glucose, or blood sugar, degrees in grown-ups with Diabetes type 2. Gomez-Perez with the exceptional co-workers hypothesized this medication might decrease the symptoms of responsive hypoglycemia.