Via practica S4/2007

INCRETINS, INCRETIN EFFECT AND DIABETES MELLITUS

Selection of the proper antidiabetic treatment option in type 2 diabetic patients depends on the metabolic compensation, the signs of insulin resistance, concomitant diseases and the age of the patient. Current terapeutic portfolio has been extended with a new therapeutic class influencing the insulin secretion by means of the gastrointestinal tract hormones-incretin hormones. Incretins are responsible for 60 % of insulin released from ß-cells of the pancreatic islets of Langerhans after the ingestion of food. Pharmaceutical effort is focusing on supporting the incretin effect by means of using the incretin mimetics (exenatide and liraglutide) or dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors (sitagliptin, vildagliptin, saxagliptin).

Keywords: type 2 diabetes mellitus, incretin effect, incretins, incretin mimetics, GLP-1, dipeptidyl peptidase.