Onglyza, also known as saxagliptin, is a daily oral prescription medication. It is indicated for adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to improve glycemic control in addition to diet and exercise. Controlling hyperglycemia with Onglyza prevents downstream complications such as kidney damage, loss of limbs, blindness, heart attack, stroke, or nerve problems. It is important that diabetes remains controlled to lessen the chance of related complications. Onglyza is not recommended for the treatment of type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.

HOW DOES ONGLYZA WORK?
Incretins are peptide hormones produced by the gut that are rapidly secreted after a meal. The two primary incretins in humans include glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Incretins such as GLP-1 potentiate glucose-dependent insulin secretion and cause many antihyperglycemic effects after their release from the gut into the blood. GLP-1 also decreases glucagon release from pancreatic alpha cells, thus lessening hepatic glucose release. These hormones, however, can become inactivated by the dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP=4) enzyme. Onglyza is a DPP-4 inhibitor that slows down the inactivation of incretin hormones. This increases hormone concentrations in the bloodstream and decreases glucose levels after meals.

SIDE EFFECTS
Common side effects of Onglyza may include:

Edema
Headache
Hypoglycemia
Urinary tract infection
Lymphocytopenia
Hypersensitivity reactions (e.g. facial edema and urticaria)