Some patients who use Onglyza for their diabetes management have recently begun to suffer from serious Onglyza side effects which include heart failure and pancreatic cancer.

Consumer protection attorneys are currently investigating the pharmaceutical manufacturer in order to bring Onglyza lawsuits against the company.

What is Onglyza?

Onglyza, generically known as saxagliptin, is a popular oral diabetes management medication that works to control blood sugar levels in the body by regulating the amount of insulin produced after eating.

Saxagliptin, the active ingredient in Onglyza, belongs to a group of medications known as DPP-4 inhibitors.  Saxagliptin works by affecting the amount of incretin in the body.  Incretin is a hormone released in the intestines.

The hormone helps to raise insulin levels when a person’s blood sugar levels are too high.  Insulin is an important hormone produced by the body’s pancreas and is responsible for monitoring glucose in the blood.

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

According to the American Diabetes Association, type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes.  A person is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes if their body does not use insulin properly or is insulin resistant.

Initially the pancreas works overtime to make extra insulin to make up for the loss but over time the pancreas cannot keep up with the body’s insulin needs and demands. Without sufficient levels of insulin, the body’s glucose levels become abnormal and can begin to build up.

Consequences of glucose build up include in the short term, cells that are starved for energy and in the long term damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and or heart.

Diabetes Management

Some patients who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are able to manage their blood glucose levels through a healthy diet and exercise.  In many cases a medical professional also needs to prescribe medication to consistently maintain proper glucose levels.

As time goes by type 2 diabetes often gets worse.  This means that patients who initially could control their glucose levels with a healthy lifestyle will likely end up taking a type 2 diabetes medication like Onglyza.

Onglyza Side Effects

Unfortunately, some patients who have used Onglyza to assist with their diabetes management may have increased their risk of both heart failure and pancreatic cancer.

One study funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneaca found that patients who used diabetic medications with the active ingredient saxagliptin had a higher rate of being hospitalized for heart failure.

The FDA has even urged Onglyza manufacturers to include warnings of heart failure risks on their drug information labels.

In 2013 the US FDA announced an investigation into whether drugs like Onglyza caused increased risks of pancreatic cancer. This announcement followed a study that found patients who took saxagliptin medications were twice as likely to be hospitalized for pancreatic cancer than persons using other diabetes management medications.