Janumet

Janumet

Generic Name: metformin and sitagliptin (met FOR min and SI ta glip tin)

Brand Names: Janumet

What is Janumet?

Janumet contains a combination of metformin and sitagliptin. Metformin and sitagliptin are oral diabetes medicines that help control blood sugar levels.

Metformin works by decreasing glucose (sugar) production in the liver and decreasing absorption of glucose by the intestines. Sitagliptin works by regulating the levels of insulin your body produces after eating.

Janumet is used along with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. Janumet is not for treating type 1 diabetes.

Life and Death Experiences: Have You Ever Had a Close Call (I Did, Yesterday)

Have you ever had a moment where you nearly missed an accident or something really scary and thought, "I'm so happy to be alive!"? That happened to me yesterday ...

Yesterday, I was driving with my kids on the freeway (I-5) in Seattle when suddenly--out of nowhere--a huge metal axe (like the type used to chop down a huge tree) flew off of semi truck and spun like a baton in the air. I saw it coming toward me, and my body stiffened. I couldn't merge right or left, there were cars all around me. And then the axe--flying at 60+ miles per hour--swooped down and missed my windshield by 1 foot. It hit the road (and I could hear the crash right next to my car), then bounced up and rammed into the passenger-side door of a Volvo sedan to my left (no one was injured).

Just Asking: Do Any of You Actually Drink Breves? (You Know, Half-and-Half Instead of Milk)

In case you're a breve newbie, here's the low down: It's like a latte, but instead of milk they steam up pure half-and-half. When I saw a (rather slender) woman ordering one at a cafe recently, I went home and Googled the nutrition info: 47 grams of fat in a 16 ounce cup. Yikes. So I have to know: Do you or anyone you know actually drink breves?

I once had a sip of a friend's breve several years ago, and it was delicious. But can you say heart-attack in a cup? I've since decided that if I were given a few months to live, I'd have one of these drinks every morning. Just because.

Tell me, do you drink breves now and then? If so, how in the world do you justify them? Skip lunch and just have a breve? After all, they pack about 550 calories.

Your #1 Most Neglected Body Part When It Comes to Healthy Living

If you were to guess what body part you don't think much about or do much beneficial, proactive things for, what would you guess? Researchers surprising answer about the declining health of this body part across America...

As women, when it comes to proactive health care, we do a lot of talking about cancer prevention, warding off heart disease and keeping our bones strong and healthy. (Yeah, we also talk a lot about fitness and nutrition as it relates to health and weight loss too.)

But there is one major area of the body that often gets neglected, and yet it's very important to your overall health. Can you guess?

New Show Confronts Size, Body Image and "Fat Camp"

People are buzzing about a new ABC Family show set to air on June 28 starring Nikki Blonsky (from Hairspray) in a drama about a teen's journey through fat camp and body acceptance. Will you watch it? Here are my thoughts ...

"I couldn't be more thrilled that the main characters are all plus-sized," actress Nikki Blonsky said. "It's ground-breaking in that way. I think kids will be able to relate because they can finally say about someone on television: that person looks like me."

Critics are already cheering about lines from show, like this one from Blonsky's character: "Everyone wants us to hate our bodies. Well, I refuse to."

U.S. Olympian Carrie Johnson Speaks About Crohn's Disease

If you've never heard of Crohn's Disease, a chronic intestinal disorder, Carrie Johnson, the only U.S. female flat-water kayaker to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, wants you to know about the lesser-known digestive disorder that she and many others struggle with. Read our interview!

Q: When did you first suspect something was wrong with your health?

CJ: In January of 2003, I started feeling tired and lost most of my appetite. I actually lost about 20 pounds overall, which was crazy. Finally, I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. It was a relief to know what illness I actually had.

Q: Were your doctors quick to diagnose you, or were they puzzled by your symptoms?

Watch Me Diet: How to Lighten Up Your Sandwich

Call me crazy, but I don't like most sandwiches. (This makes packing a lunch a huge ordeal--ugh!) But yesterday's tip on watching your condiments caught my eye, since I have lots of sandwich rules on the rare occasions I'm forced to eat them.

My Exactly What to Eat to Lose Weight tip for yesterday reminded me that I can save 180 calories just by switching from mayo to mustard. I've long given up on mayo in order to slim down my sammy--I prefer hummus--but I'll never part with a slice of cheese. When I'm really watching my weight, I'll throw out a piece (OK, or maybe a quarter of a piece) of the bread, so my sandwich is open-faced.

Healthy (and Cheap!) Lunch Idea: Soba Noodles With Ginger Scallion Sauce

Bringing your lunch to work can be such a drag, but did you know that it can save you $1,200 a year!? So after countless turkey, tuna and ham sandwiches, I was only too happy to find this recipe from the experts behind the delicious Momofuku restaurant in NYC. The best part? It costs less than $7 to make and can last you a few days!

First, here's the recipe for the sauce, excerpted from Momofuku by David Chang and Peter Meehan:

Ginger Scallion Sauce

Makes about 3 cups

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups thinly sliced scallions (greens and whites, from 1 to 2 large bunches)

1/2 cup finely minced peeled fresh ginger

One Brave Woman Raises Her Hand and Asks: "Is My Vagina ... Smelly?"

It's OK if you're cringing a little right now. When I read a post over on Yahoo Shine about vaginal odors (oh that phrase just hits you the wrong way, doesn't it?), I cringed a teeny bit too. But why? It's a perfectly reasonable thing to discuss among us gals, right? So let's talk: Have you ever been concerned about the way you smell ... down there? Read on, my dears...

"I was just wondering if all vaginas smell the same," a Yahoo Shine reader writes. "It sounds really weird but ... I can't help but think mine smells wrong or different from other women's. I can smell mine after I wipe and on my dirty underwear... I'm just not sure if that is normal or not. I have been tested for STD's and everything, so why does mine have such a distinct scent/taste? Can other people smell it too?"

The Kind-of-Weird Exercise You Might Just Fall in Love With

When it comes to getting your cardio for the day, do you ever just feeling like going on a fast walk (especially when the dog is begging and it's a gorgeous day)? Some people are raving about a new trend called "mindful walking," which combines moving with meditation. Read on to see if it might work for you.

Best Health had a good article about mindful walking recently. Here's a quick recap of how to give it a try:

Get a mantra: During treatment for breast cancer, one fitness expert and author who was interviewed in the article encourages people to ditch the iPod and instead focus on repeating a healthy mantra such as "moving, breathing," "I am healthy, I am healing," or "God is with me" while walking.

The Exercise That Might Help You Get Pregnant (That Is, if You Want to)

Have a case of baby lust? If you're trying to get pregnant, you've probably heard of all kinds of wacky things that some say may increase your fertility (headstands after sex, "fertility blend" teas, and I won't even go into the details of what some say to do with egg whites). But, I recently heard about how one exercise might increase your pregnancy odds (that is, if you want them to be increased!)...

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According to women's health expert Alice Domar, Ph.D., you might try a little yoga! While it's hard to say if a downward-facing dog pose will give you any real boost in the ovulation department, it has been shown to lower stress levels, which experts believe may play a role in fertility issues.

Natazia

Natazia

Generic Name: dienogest and estradiol (dye EN oh jest and ESS tra DYE ole)

Brand Names: Natazia

What is Natazia?

Natazia contains a combination of dienogest and estradiol. Dienogest and estradiol are female hormones that prevent ovulation (the release of an egg from an ovary). Natazia also causes changes in your cervical mucus and uterine lining, making it harder for sperm to reach the uterus and harder for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus.

Natazia is used as contraception to prevent pregnancy.

Natazia may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about Natazia