Asian Journal of Advances in Medical Science

Type 2 diabetes is said to be a chronic illness with progressive phases constituting insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction. Incretin hormones such as glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) are essentially responsible for the regulation of postprandial glucose levels by enhancing insulin secretion, suppressing glucagon release, slowing gastric emptying, and facilitating glucose uptake by peripheral tissues such as muscle and adipose tissue. Despite the fact that GLP-1 receptor agonists have shown positive effects on glucose maintenance and weight loss, their long-term effectiveness is still in question. More recently, in an attempt harnessing the synergistic activities of both incretins, dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists such as tirzepatide have been developed and show better results than conventional therapies in terms of glycemic control, body weight reduction, and cardiometabolic potential. This paper discusses the physiology of incretin hormones with the description of the initial phase of incretin-based therapies, clinical outcomes of dual receptor agonists, and their therapeutic potential toward the management of T2DM. Future directions and the importance of clinical pharmacists vis-a-vis contemporary treatment options in the optimization of patient outcomes with these novel agents have been further discussed in this article.