Type II diabetes mellitus is a common global hormonal disorder. Inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase – 4 by dipeptidyl peptidase – 4
inhibitors enhances hormonal activity of incretins, like GLP – 1, GIP, GRP, stimulates insulin release and reduces glucagon secretion,
finally producing anti-hyperglycaemic activity in diabetic patients. A clinical pharmacological study of the prevalent prescription
patterns of metformin, sitagliptin and gemigliptin among the early moderate grade new type II diabetes mellitus patients in global
multi-centre tertiary care hospitals. 100 new early moderate grade type II diabetes mellitus patients, were prescribed oral metformin
500 mg once daily, sitagliptin 25 mg once daily or gemigliptin 25 mg once daily for 3 months, in monotherapy, or in combination
therapy, or in a mixed regimen of monotherapy and combination therapy. The safety and efficacy assessments, with blood sugar and
HbA1c levels and urine examination, at subsequent intervals and follow-up, were recorded and analysed. The number of prescriptions
for each drug was recorded, and the respective prescription rates were statistically analysed in percentages. Metformin was most
commonly prescribed (80 prescriptions, 80%), followed by sitagliptin (16 prescriptions, 16%), and gemigliptin (4 prescriptions, 4%). Prescription frequency of metformin was followed by sitagliptin and then by gemigliptin.
Assessment of type II diabetes mellitus drug therapy in diabetes clinic of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Addis Ababa