(BPT) – Mike Golic, former professional football player and national sports talk show host, isn’t afraid to speak his mind. Since he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, Mike has been his own advocate—recruiting his support team and actively learning how to manage his blood sugar.
Now, Mike has teamed up with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to share his story at ICanImagine.com and motivate others to find their voice in diabetes management.
When it comes to managing type 2 diabetes, it’s important to take charge. From meal planning and staying active to working with your doctor, Mike recommends keeping these tips in mind to help you achieve your goals—no matter where you are.
- At work: Invite coworkers to join you for a walk at lunch to take advantage of a little extra time to exercise.
- In the doctor’s office: Make the most of your doctor’s appointments by coming ready with any questions you may have about type 2 diabetes and your management approach. You can even create a personalized discussion guide at ICanImagine.com.
- At home: Talk with your family about ways they can support you, like planning healthy meals or discovering activities you can enjoy together.
- Out to eat: Moderation is key. While meal planning can help you stay on track, it’s ok to have the occasional indulgence—it’s all about balance.
“I gained the confidence to advocate for myself and talk to my doctor about ways to stay healthy,” says Mike Golic. “When I learned more about other treatment options, I felt empowered to ask my doctor about treatment with INVOKANA® (canagliflozin). Since I started taking the once-daily pill, I have been able to lower my blood sugar and even lost some weight.”
INVOKANA® is a once-daily pill used along with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. In most clinical trials, the majority of people taking INVOKANA® reached an A1C goal of less than 7 percent, a goal recommended by the American Diabetes Association. INVOKANA® works with the kidneys to help adults with type 2 diabetes lose some sugar through the process of urination. INVOKANA® is not for weight loss, but may help people lose weight—on average 3 percent. Results may vary by dose and when used with certain other diabetes medications. INVOKANA® was also shown in clinical trials to reduce systolic blood pressure, though it is not indicated as antihypertensive treatment. The most common side effects of INVOKANA® include genital yeast infections, urinary tract infection, and changes in urination.[i] These specific adverse events were generally mild to moderate in intensity in clinical studies.
At ICanImagine.com, you can get more practical tips from experts and learn more about Mike’s health journey. And because research shows tailored resources can improve disease management, you can now create a personalized discussion guide to help make the most of your next doctor’s appointment. Crafted in collaboration with Certified Diabetes Educators, the guide includes customized questions, tips and information to help you take control of your health, find your voice and imagine loving your numbers.
WHAT IS INVOKANA®?
INVOKANA® is a prescription medicine used along with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. INVOKANA® is not for people with type 1 diabetes or with diabetic ketoacidosis (increased ketones in blood or urine). It is not known if INVOKANA® is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
INVOKANA® can cause important side effects, including:
- Dehydration. INVOKANA® can cause some people to become dehydrated (the loss of too much body water), which may cause you to feel dizzy, faint, lightheaded, or weak, especially when you stand up (orthostatic hypotension). You may be at higher risk of dehydration if you have low blood pressure, take medicines to lower your blood pressure (including diuretics [water pills]), are on a low sodium (salt) diet, have kidney problems, or are 65 years of age or older
- Vaginal yeast infection. Women who take INVOKANA® may get vaginal yeast infections. Symptoms include: vaginal odor, white or yellowish vaginal discharge (discharge may be lumpy or look like cottage cheese), or vaginal itching
- Yeast infection of the penis (balanitis or balanoposthitis). Men who take INVOKANA® may get a yeast infection of the skin around the penis. Symptoms include: redness, itching, or swelling of the penis; rash of the penis; foul-smelling discharge from the penis; or pain in the skin around penis
Talk to your doctor about what to do if you get symptoms of a yeast infection of the vagina or penis.
Do not take INVOKANA® if you:
- are allergic to canagliflozin or any of the ingredients in INVOKANA®. Symptoms of allergic reaction may include: rash; raised red patches on your skin (hives); or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and throat that may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing
- have severe kidney problems or are on dialysis
Before you take INVOKANA®, tell your doctor if you have kidney problems; liver problems; history of urinary tract infections or problems with urination; are on a low sodium (salt) diet; are going to have surgery; are eating less due to illness, surgery, or change in diet; have pancreas problems; drink alcohol very often (or drink a lot of alcohol in short-term); ever had an allergic reaction to INVOKANA®; or have other medical conditions.
Tell your doctor if you are or plan to become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed. INVOKANA® may harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant while taking INVOKANA®, tell your doctor right away. INVOKANA® may pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby. Do not breastfeed while taking INVOKANA®.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take diuretics (water pills), rifampin (used to treat or prevent tuberculosis), phenytoin or phenobarbital (used to control seizures), ritonavir (Norvir®, Kaletra® – used to treat HIV infection), or digoxin (Lanoxin®– used to treat heart problems).
Possible Side Effects of INVOKANA®
INVOKANA® may cause serious side effects, including:
- Ketoacidosis (increased ketones in your blood or urine). Ketoacidosis has happened in people who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, during treatment with INVOKANA®. Ketoacidosis is a serious condition, which may need to be treated in a hospital. Ketoacidosis may lead to death. Ketoacidosis can happen with INVOKANA® even if your blood sugar is less than 250 mg/dL. Stop taking INVOKANA® and call your doctor right away if you get any of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, stomach-area pain, tiredness, or trouble breathing
- Kidney problems. Sudden kidney injury has happened to people taking INVOKANA®. Talk to your doctor right away if you: 1) reduce the amount of food or liquid you drink, if you are sick, or cannot eat or 2) you start to lose liquids from your body from vomiting, diarrhea, or being in the sun too long
- A high amount of potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia)
- Serious Urinary Tract Infections: may lead to hospitalization and have happened in people taking INVOKANA®. Tell your doctor if you have signs or symptoms of a urinary tract infection such as: burning feeling while urinating, need to urinate often or right away, pain in the lower part of your stomach (pelvis), or blood in the urine. Some people may also have high fever, back pain, nausea, or vomiting
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). If you take INVOKANA® with another medicine that can cause low blood sugar, such as a sulfonylurea or insulin, your risk of getting low blood sugar is higher. The dose of your sulfonylurea medicine or insulin may need to be lowered while you take INVOKANA®
Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include: headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, confusion, irritability, hunger, fast heartbeat, sweating, shaking, or feeling jittery.
Serious allergic reaction. If you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, stop taking INVOKANA® and call your doctor right away or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
Broken Bones (fractures): Bone fractures have been seen in patients taking INVOKANA®. Talk to your doctor about factors that may increase your risk of bone fracture.
The most common side effects of INVOKANA® include: vaginal yeast infections and yeast infections of the penis; changes in urination, including urgent need to urinate more often, in larger amounts, or at night.
Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects to Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC at 1-800-526-7736.
Please see full Product Information and Medication Guide.
Canagliflozin is licensed from Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation.
Trademarks are those of their respective owners.
057919-160810
[i] INVOKANA® [prescribing information]. Titusville, NJ: Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. https://www.invokana.com/prescribing-information.pdf. Accessed March 2, 2017.
