Cetapin P (metformin, pioglitazone) is a combination medication that helps patients with type 2 diabetes manage blood sugar. It is administered by tablets, which should be taken with food to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal side effects.

Each tablet contains:

• metformin, a medication which helps reduce the production of, and inhibit absorption of, glucose in the body. It is a very common medication used by type 2 diabetics around the globe.
• pioglitazone, which increases the body's sensitivity to insulin, whether the insulin occurs naturally or is taken as medication. This helps the body utilize blood glucose more efficiently, as well as reduce overall blood glucose.

Combined the above two medications are very effective at helping patients manage blood glucose. Other medications, including insulin, may or may not also be administered along with Cetapin P; it depends on the severity of the condition as well as the individual. All patients should monitor blood glucose closely following the start of treatment and any dose adjustments to any medications.

Cetapin P should not be confused with Cetapin V, a similar but different medication. While both contain metformin, Cetapin V contains voglibose instead of pioglitazone. Voglibose inhibits the breakdown of foods into glucose, reducing glucose spikes after meals.

How to Take Cetapin P

Cetapin P is administered by tablet. Each dose should be taken with food to reduce risk of gastrointestinal side effects.

Dosage is best determined by a doctor, who can take into account personal variables---such as weight, age, other medical conditions present or other medications taken---as well as the severity of the type 2 diabetes.

Rough guidelines for patients not taking other antidiabetic medications:

• Patients are typically started on 15 mg/500 mg pioglitazone/metformin twice per day.
• Dosage may be gradually increased if needed, and if the medication is well tolerated.
• On higher doses, dose frequency may change to three times per day.
• Dosage should never exceed 45 mg pioglitazone or 2550 mg metformin per day.
• Each dose should be taken with food.

Patients taking other antidiabetic medications are more variable; dose levels of one or more medications may need to be reduced. A doctor should be consulted.

Patients taking pioglitazone and metformin separately, who wish to combine them to a single tablet, should start with doses that match as closely as possible the individual doses of pioglitazone and metformin.

All patients should monitor blood sugar closely when treatment begins or dose of Cetapin P, or any antidiabetic medication, is adjusted. Hypoglycemia---or low blood sugar---is a risk.

Modifying Lifestyle

Cetapin P works best when lifestyle changes are also made. These often include:

• Get regular exercise
• Improve diet
• Quit smoking
• Avoid stress when possible
• Reach and maintain a healthy weight

These may sound unpleasant---and often are at first---but they are critical for long-term management of type 2 diabetes. In fact, in the vast majority of cases, making applicable lifestyle changes are the only way to reduce, and eventually eliminate, dependency on medications like Cetapin P.

A doctor can suggest lifestyle changes applicable to a given individual. There is also an abundance of information available online. We strongly encourage patients to follow through on lifestyle changes to the best of their abilities.

Benefits of Treatment

Cetapin P treatment is quite beneficial for patients who use the medication correctly. In addition to the obvious---keeping blood sugar within reasonable levels---it helps slow or prevent complications of the disease.

Type 2 diabetes can cause a wide range of complications if unmanaged, including:

• loss of sensation in extremities
• loss of limbs
• vision impairment
• blindness
• kidney failure
• stroke
• heart attack
• Other severe complications

The risk of experiencing all of these is reduced considerably when blood glucose is kept within normal ranges, whether by Cetapin P, other medications, or lifestyle changes.

All patients are encouraged to do their best to manage this condition. The consequences of untreated diabetes are not cheap or fun, and will likely reduce the duration of life. With Cetapin P or the numerous other medications available---as well as lifestyle changes---managing type 2 diabetes is certainly possible.