Effect of dipeptidylpeptidase 4 (dpp 4) inhibitors on complications in type 2 diabetic patients

Diabetes is a chronic disease that increases mortality and morbidity with its complications, decreases the quality of life and has considerable treatment costs and a high prevalence. One of the most significant goals of diabetes treatment is to prevent, delay or control its complications. Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 enzyme inhibitors (DPP4 inhibitors), which is a relatively new drug category and whose effects on the mechanisms of action and complications are still being investigated, are used together with other antidiabetic drugs. This study aims to investigate the effect of DPP4 inhibitors on diabetes complications. This study was carried out with 197 patients admitted to the Endocrinology outpatient clinics of Başkent University, Faculty of Medicine between 28/04/2011 and 31/12/2018 by calculating the sample size. The results revealed that all diabetic complications were less common in the patient group where DPP4 inhibitors were added to the treatment compared to the insulin group. It is thought that DPP4 inhibitors, found to reduce the rate of diabetes-related complications, can also be prescribed by primary health care physicians, which is a necessary step in reducing diabetes-related morbidity rates and treatment costs.