Clinical Medicine Insights: Therapeutics

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has become an epidemic, with worldwide projections indicating that more than 336 million people will be afflicted with the disease by 2030. T2DM is characterized by inappropriately high blood glucose levels due to a deficiency in insulin secretion, action, or both. Despite the horrific complications that occur with chronic elevations of blood glucose levels, less than half of those with T2DM do not maintain proper glycemic control. Sitagliptin (Januvia, Merck and Co., Whitehouse Station, New Jersey) is a novel diabetes therapy approved for use in the U.S. and Europe. This small molecule inhibits the activity of DPP-4, a peptidase that degrades the glucoregulatory hormone GLP-1. Sitagliptin increases glucoregulation in individuals with T2DM both as a monotherapy and in combination with other antihyperglycemic drugs, with a low risk of adverse side effects.