Diabetes Drugs - dipeptidyl peptidase 4-inhibitors

Question 1

dipeptidyl peptidase 4-inhibitors

What are incretin hormones?

Answer 1

• in response to a meal, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) are released (these hormones are termed incretin hormones)
• these incretin hormones stimulate insulin and suppress glucagon release (both in a glucose-dependent manner), delay gastric emptying, and increase satiety
• incretins are rapidly degraded by dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4)

Question 2

dipeptidyl peptidase 4-inhibitors

Mode of Action?

Answer 2

• DPP-4 inhibitors are a class of oral antihyperglycemic agents (OHAs) work via slowing incretin degradation
• DPP-4 inhibitors enhance meal-stimulated active GLP-1 and GIP levels by two- to threefold