This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Martin, C. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Martin, C. L. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Beyond Glycemic Control

The Effects of Incretin Hormones in Type 2 Diabetes

From the Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, Michigan Diabetes Research and Training Center, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Correspondence to Catherine L. Martin, MS, APRN, BC-ADM, CDE, University of Michigan Health System, 400 N. Ingalls, G 148/SPC 5482, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (martinc{at}med.umich.edu).

The improved understanding of glucoregulatory hormones has driven the development of new pharmacologic agents to treat type 2 diabetes. One new class of antihyperglycemic medication is incretin mimetics (IMs). Incretin hormones potentiate insulin secretion following meal ingestion, a process that is impaired in patients with type 2 diabetes. GLP-1, a 30–amino acid peptide incretin hormone, is produced in the L cells of the ileum and colon. Studies have shown that a 6-week continuous GLP-1 infusion in patients with type 2 diabetes improved glycemic control and β-cell function and delayed gastric emptying. Despite the rapid degradation and inactivation of GLP-1 by the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV), agents that mimic the actions of GLP-1 are of great clinical interest. First-in-class IM exenatide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist resistant to DPP-IV inactivation, mimics many beneficial glucoregulatory effects of GLP-1, such as suppressing glucagon secretion, regulating gastric emptying and satiety, and increasing glucose-dependent insulin secretion. Exenatide is an adjunctive therapy for patients who take metformin, a sulfonylurea, a thiazolidinedione, or a combination of these oral medications but have not achieved glycemic control. An 82-week, open-label extension trial has shown that exenatide is well tolerated and that the benefits, including improved glycemic control, weight loss, and mitigation of cardiovascular risk factors, are sustained.

The Diabetes Educator, Vol. 34, No. Supplement 3, 66S-72S (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0145721708319238


CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?