<unk>  is part of a class of diabetes medications called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. DPP-4 is an enzyme that breaks down incretin hormones. As a DPP-4 inhibitor,<unk>  slows down the breakdown of incretin hormones, increasing the level of these hormones in the body. It is this increase in incretin hormones that is responsible for the beneficial actions of<unk> , including increasing insulin production in response to meals and decreasing the rate of gluconeogenesis in the liver. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4's role in blood glucose regulation is thought to be through degradation of GIP and the degradation of GLP-1. Because incretin hormones are more active in response to higher blood sugar levels (and are less active in response to low blood sugar), the risk of dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is low with<unk>  monotherapy.
Saxagliptin
Linagliptin
Sitagliptin
Vildagliptin
Liraglutide
Exenatide
Canagliflozin
Pioglitazone