Incretins in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Incretin hormones are defined as intestinal hormones released in response to nutrient ingestion. the incretin hormones include glucagon-like peptide (glp-l) and glucose dependent polypeptide (gip). glp-l secreted by l cells from ileum and colon while gip is maily produced k cells from the upper small intestine. incretin hormones potentiate the glucose induced insulin response from pancreatic beta cells. with their non weight-gain, non hypoglycemic attributes and with positive effects on beta cell mass and lifetime as proven by animal experiments, parenterally used glp-1 agonists of exenatide and liraglutide have emerged among medications used for the treatment of early stage diabetes. dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors are effective either as a single or combination therapy in lowering glycated hemoglobin, fasting and p ostprandial glucose levels, with a low incidence of hypoglycemia and no weight gain.