Incretins a hormones increase insulin secretion and useful in the treatment of Type 2 Diabetics

Abstract

The incretins are hormones that work to increase insulin secretion. The incretin concept was developed when it was observed that there is substantially more insulin secreted in response to oral glucose versus intravenous glucose, as shown in the graph at right. It was hypothesized that glucose in the digestive tract activated a feed forward mechanism that increased insulin secretion, anticipating the rise in blood glucose that would occur following absorption of ingested carbohydrates. Defective incretin action in T2DM. Some type 2 diabetics show deficient insulin secretion in response to meals.  This may be due to a lack of an effect of incretins. Studies have shown that in type 2 diabetics, there is less GLP-1 secretion, and beta cells are less responsive to GIP.