The Open Diabetes Journal

2011, 4 : 1-5
Published online 2011 January 05. DOI: 10.2174/1876524601104010001
Publisher ID: TODIAJ-4-1

Types of Diabetes that the Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitor May Act Effectively and Safely

Hidekatsu Yanai and Hiroki Adachi
Department of Internal Medicine, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Kohnodai Hospital, Chiba 272- 8516, Japan.

ABSTRACT

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors prevent the inactivation of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). This protein, released from the gut following ingestion of a meal, stimulates insulin secretion and inhibits glucagon secretion. Compared with other anti-diabetic drugs, the pharmacological characteristics of DDP-4 inhibitor include improvement in postprandial hyperglycemia, low frequency of hypoglycemia, prevention of development of obesity, few adverse events. Taking account of pharmacological characteristic and our therapeutic experiences with DPP-4 inhibitor, we believe that DPP-4 inhibitor may be a useful and safe oral anti-diabetic drug for diabetes in the elderly people, diabetes complicated with obesity, chronic hepatitis/liver cirrhosis, and steroid-induced diabetes.

Keywords:

chronic hepatitis, dipeptidyl peptidase-4, glucagon-like peptide-1.