Jentadueto

Jentadueto is a treatment for type-2 diabetes manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim, and is a twice a day tablet. There are two functioning agents contained in it, which are linagliptin and metformin. Collectively, these work by increasing the efficiency of insulin in the body and helping to manage blood sugar levels. Jentadueto is only available to buy in the UK on prescription.

1. Combination treatment 
2. Effective at managing blood sugar
3. Basic two a day dose

Type-2 diabetes accounts for around nine tenths of all cases of the condition, of which there are thought to be over 3 million in the UK. The main difference between type-1 and type-2 diabetes is their nature of onset: while type-1 will usually present itself during a person’s early or teenage years; those who develop type-2 will usually do so from the age of 40 onwards. Additionally, persons with type-1 will usually produce no insulin at all, due to the immune system inhibiting pancreatic function. People with type-2 will usually produce some insulin, but not enough to properly manage glucose levels; or an amount which cannot be used adequately by cells to extract blood sugar.

Numerous risk factors can contribute towards type-2 diabetes. These include: being overweight; having a close relative with the condition; being over the age of 40; or being of South Asian or Chinese descent. Persons of Black African or Caribbean origin are also thought to be at increased risk.

Symptoms generally include feelings of being tired or lethargic, weight fluctuations, and a frequent need or increased urgency to urinate. Sight problems may also develop due to the presence of dryness in the eyes. Untreated, the condition can lead to a series of complications, such as heart disease, stroke, organ damage and nerve dysfunction, so it is vital to seek treatment as early as possible; particularly if you are experiencing symptoms and fall into one or more of the above high risk categories.

When treating the condition, a doctor will usually advise the patient to implement a programme of exercise and a special diet to get blood sugar levels under control. If these measures do not suffice, however, then they may advise prescription treatment. Jentadueto is an example of a combination antidiabetic, which may be administered in those cases where a single-agent treatment has provided less than adequate results.

In those with type-2 diabetes, blood sugar levels will be so high that insulin, a chemical which is crucial in the extraction of sugar from the blood, and its absorption into the cells and tissues in the body that need it, cannot keep up. Consistently high blood sugar then causes damage to the blood vessels, which can have a knock-on effect on the body’s organs.

The agents in Jentadueto work in a variety of ways to keep blood glucose down. Metformin, a biguanide, works by: lowering the amount of sugar naturally generated by the liver; increasing the sensitivity of cells in the muscles to insulin, allowing more sugar to be extracted; and slowing down in the gut the assimilation of sugars through food. The other agent, linagliptin, is a type of drug called a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, and works by stopping the enzymatic disintegration of two incretin hormones. These hormones boost the insulin-producing function of the pancreas after the consumption of food, and lower the presence of glucagon, thus also reducing sugar production by the liver. Blood sugar levels are better controlled as a result.

Jentadueto is not available on our site. See your GP to renew your prescription for this medication.