Incretin-based therapy for diabetic ulcers: from bench to bedside

Introduction: Diabetic foot ulcers are a serious complication of diabetes and are associated with pain, disability, and poor quality of life. Incretin-based therapy is available for type-2 diabetes. Aside from glucose control, such treatment can impart numerous beneficial effects. Areas covered: This review summarizes the preclinical and clinical evidence supporting incretin-based treatment approaches for diabetic ulcers. Expert opinion: Incretin-based therapy may have a role in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers; the benefits of such treatment arise from attenuation of inflammatory response, improvement of keratinocyte migration, induction of angiogenesis, and the enhancement of tissue remodeling. Large-scale clinical trials are required to determine the advantages of GLP-1 receptor agonists and DPP4 inhibitors. Future research on the topical application of incretin-based therapy is necessary. Such therapeutic approaches may provide new hope in improving the treatment of impaired diabetic foot ulcers.