Non-Insulin Treatments for Diabetes

Aimed to review newer therapeutic agents for the treatment of diabetes that are related to hormones responsible for glucose metabolism other than insulin. Data from several new therapeutic agents were reviewed to provide an overview of the efficacy and tolerability of these agents. With a greater understanding of the physiology of glucose homeostasis and the pathophysiology of diabetes, new therapeutic agents have been developed to address other hormonal deficiencies/defects that are seen in the disease. These new agents fall under the categories of incretin-related therapies, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 mimetics, glucagon-like peptide-1 analogs, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, and amylin analogs. A1c reductions with these agents range from 0.4% to 1.6% (depending on each agent), with added benefits such as weight neutrality/loss and low risk for hypoglycemia.