The Promise of Liraglutide in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common and serious metabolic disorders and probably one of the oldest diseases known to human;it was first described in Egyptian manuscript about 3000 years ago [2].There are two types of DM; type 1 in which the pancreas fails to produce Insulin and type 2 in which there is Insulin resistance and decreased Insulin sensitivity.It is estimated that 366 million people had DM in 2011.By 2030 this would have risen to 552 millions.DM caused 4.6 million death in 2011 [3].Although many drugs are available for managing DM type 2, it remains controlled in fewer than 50% of people in the U.S [1], hence more efforts are needed to achieve the recommended ADA and AAACE HbA1c goals below 7% and 6.5% respectively.The Incretin mimetics is a class of medications which was introduced to the market in 2005 as Exenatide [4].Liraglutide was approved by the FDA in January 2010 as an adjuvant to diet and exercise in adults with type 2 DM [5].Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic medical condition which is charachterized by hyperglycemia.It has very serious acute complications such as Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) and Hyperosmotic Hyperglycemic Non ketotic Syndrome (HHNS).Also it has serious long term complications such as macroangiopathies, microangiopathies, neuropathies and others.Many drugs have been developed to combat this disease.However, it remains controlled in fewer than 50% of patients in the U.S [1].The Incretin mimetics as Liraglutide are new agents which show great results in DM type 2. In this article we will discuss the mechanisms of action, types, outcome and adverse effects of Liraglutide.