The Place of Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors in Type 2 Diabetes Therapeutics: A “Me Too” or “the Special One” Antidiabetic Class?

Table 2

Main features of DPP-4 inhibitors versus other (non-incretin-based) oral antidiabetic drugs, Table 1.

Class	Mechanisms of action	Effects/advantages	Adverse reactions	ΔHbA1c (%)
DPP-4 inhibitors	Inhibit metabolism by DPP-4 enzyme; Increase the endogenous bioactive form of GLP-1	Reduce blood glucose levels and the postprandial glucose excursion; Have no effects on body weight; Have possible effects on pancreatic β cells mass; Perform oral administration	Abdominal pain; Nausea and vomiting; Diarrhoea; Nasopharyngitis; Respiratory infections; Headache	0.5–1.0