Incretin
The class of gut hormones (GLP-1 and GIP) that amplify insulin release after meals — the basis of modern weight drugs.
The incretin effect is a classic physiology observation: glucose swallowed produces far more insulin than the same glucose infused into a vein. The difference is the gut's own messengers — GLP-1 and GIP — released when food arrives and priming the pancreas before blood sugar even peaks.
"Incretin-based therapy" is the umbrella clinicians use for every drug built on those messengers: GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide, dual agonists like tirzepatide, and the multi-agonists in trials. When headlines say "incretin era," they mean the period — now — in which these gut-hormone drugs rewrote what medication can do for both diabetes and obesity.
This glossary entry is general information, not medical advice, and is written to be consistent with FDA prescribing information and primary trial publications as of its last review. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider for personal medical decisions.
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