Terapevt Arkh
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There is a new class of drugs used to treat diabetes mellitus (DM). It has come into existence after long-term studies of the fundamentally new hemostastic mechanism in glucose regulation via the gastrointestinal hormones incretins. ⋯ The mechanism of action of incretins is considered. The place of novel agents (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors) in the total pattern of treatment for type 2 DM, indications for and contraindications to their use, benefits versus traditional glucose-lowering therapy (the inestimable advantage of these drugs is no risk for hypoglycemia), and prospects for their future application are discussed.