Pharmacological Treatments: Incretin Therapies
GLP-1 agonists and DPP4 inhibitors
As well as exercise and a healthy diet, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) can be treated by insulin, sulfonylurea and metformin.
However, T2DM can also be effectively treated by the incretin therapies:
GLP-1 agonists and DPP4 inhibitors
​
The purpose of the resources below is to explain the beneficial and therapeutic effects of incretin therapies.
​
Video on GLP-1 agonists
This video should hopefully give you a clear idea about what GLP-1 agonists are.
Sit back and enjoy!
Video on DPP4 inhibitors
This video should hopefully give you a clear explanation of the beneficial effects of DPP4 inhibitors.
Sit back and enjoy!
Extra information on Type 2 Diabetes, Incretin Therapies and More Treatments
Useful website links and references:
​
https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/metformin
https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/sitagliptin
​
www.nhs.uk/medicines/saxagliptin
​
mytype1diabetes.nhs.uk/resources/internal/what-are-glp-1-analogues-incretin-mimetics
​
www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng28/resources/type-2-diabetes-in-adults-management-pdf-1837338615493
​
www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-medication/incretin-mimetics.html
​
​
​
Baggio, L.L. and Drucker, D.J. (2007). Biology of Incretins: GLP-1 and GIP. Gastroenterology, 132(), pp.2131–2157.
​
Greiner, T.U. and Bäckhed, F. (2016). Microbial regulation of GLP-1 and L-cell biology. Molecular Metabolism, 5(), pp.753–758.
​
Patti, A.M., Nikolic, D., Magan-Fernandez, A., Giglio, R.V., Castellino, G., Chianetta, R., Citarrella, R.,
Corrado, E., Provenzano, F., Provenzano, V., Montalto, G., Rizvi, A.A. and Rizzo, M. (2019).
Exenatide once-weekly improves metabolic parameters, endothelial dysfunction and carotid intimamedia
thickness in patients with type-2 diabetes: An 8-month prospective study. Diabetes Research
and Clinical Practice , 149, pp.163–169.
​
Szayna, M., Doyle, M.E., Betkey, J.A., Holloway, H.W., Spencer, R.G.S., Greig, N.H. and Egan, J.M.
(2000). Exendin-4 Decelerates Food Intake, Weight Gain, and Fat Deposition in Zucker Rats.
Endocrinology, 141, pp.1936–1941.
​
​