US FDA Supports Once-Daily Diabetes Treatment Onglyza

Recently, the US FDA has approved a once-daily tablet to treat adult Type 2 Diabetes.  Along with diet and exercise, Onglyza will assist to manage high blood sugar levels.

In people who do not suffer from diabetes, the hormone insulin maintains glucose levels.  People who do suffer from diabetes either display immunity to the insulin, or they don’t yield an adequate amount of insulin to retain normal blood glucose levels.

Onglyza belongs to a group of drugs: dipeptidyl peptidase – 4 inhibitors.  These treatment options activate insulin secretion from the pancreas post meals.

The FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research states, “Keeping blood sugar levels in adequate control is essential to the good health of the 24 million people in the United States with Type 2 diabetes … high blood sugar levels can cause blurry vision and excessive urination … eventually resulting in serious conditions as kidney and eye disease.”

As a result of Onglyza, the most common side effects include upper respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infection, and headache, as well as, rash and hive allergy-like reactions.

The FDA’s validation of Onglyza comes after the results of eight clinical trials.