Research Progress in Effectiveness and Hypoglycemic Risk of Insulin Combined with Incretin Mimetics

Insulin treatment can improve utilization of peripheral glucose, reduce hepatic glycogen output and effectively lower fasting blood glucose, but it can also cause hypoglycemia, insulin resistance and other adverse reactions. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4I), as new drugs for treatment of type 2 diabetes, have attracted more and more attention. These drugs can promote secretion of endogenous insulin, suppress secretion of glucagon, delay gastric emptying, increase satiety, reduce appetite, and effectively lower postprandial blood glucose. Combination of these drugs with insulin can maximize their strength and minimize their weakness, give play to synergic complementation, and mitigate the risk of hypoglycemia. Based on glycosylate hemoglobin variation before and after drug administration as well as incidence of hypoglycemia, this paper discussed the effectiveness and safety of GLP-1RA and DPP-4I in type 2 diabetic patients suffering poor glucose control with insulin, hoping to provide reference for clinical practice.