Abstract
The incretin effect produced by incretin hormones and peptides, particularly glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), is reduced in type 2 diabetes mellitus, which plays a role in its pathogenesis. Incretins are released from the gut in response to ingestion of food.
Incretins mainly target the pancreas where they stimulate glucose-dependent insulin secretion, thus helping achieve glucose homeostasis. As human GLP-1 has a short half-life, it is not suitable for long-term treatment and GLP-1 analogues resistant to early enzymatic degradation have been developed.
For the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, exenatide is currently used and liraglutide, which has recently shown great promise, has been newly licensed for use.