Key takeaways
Januvia (sitagliptin) and nateglinide are both medications used to treat Type 2 diabetes, but they work in different ways and have different dosing schedules. Januvia (sitagliptin) is a dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitor that you take once daily, and it helps your body produce more insulin and less sugar by blocking the DPP-4 protein. On the other hand, nateglinide is a meglitinide that you need to take three times a day before meals, and it works by making your pancreas release more insulin quickly after you eat. Januvia is convenient because you only take it once a day, but it can cause severe joint pain and might not be the best choice if you have heart problems. Nateglinide, while effective, can be inconvenient due to its three-times-a-day dosing and can cause low blood sugar if you skip a meal. Additionally, nateglinide is a lower-cost generic, whereas Januvia is only available as a brand. Both medications can be taken with metformin for better blood sugar control. Still, they have different side effects and risks, such as Januvia's potential for kidney problems and nateglinide's risk of causing low blood sugar.
