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GLP-1 Versus GIP: The Two Incretins
GLP-1 is one of two major incretin hormones. The other is glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), secreted by K-cells in the upper small intestine (the duodenum and jejunum). Together, GLP-1 and GIP account for the majority of the incretin effect —
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- GLP-1 is one of two major incretin hormones. The other is glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), secreted by K-cells in the upper small intestine (the duodenum and jejunum). Together, GLP-1 and GIP account for the majority of the incretin effect — the phenomenon that lets your body extract more insulin from an oral meal than from the same amount of glucose delivered intravenously.
- The two hormones are not interchangeable. GIP primarily stimulates insulin secretion and supports pancreatic beta-cell health, but has little effect on appetite or glucagon. GLP-1 stimulates insulin, suppresses glucagon, slows gastric emptying, and powerfully reduces appetite. Crucially, in people with type 2 diabetes the insulin-stimulating action of GIP is substantially blunted, whereas GLP-1 — especially at higher, pharmacological doses — still works.[1] That difference is exactly why the first generation of incretin drugs targeted GLP-1 rather than GIP, and why combining the two came only later.