Table 1.

Advantages and disadvantages of treatment with insulin and incretins

Advantages: insulin	Advantages: incretins	Advantages: combination insulin and linagliptin
Most effective blood glucose-lowering therapy39	Safe and effective improvement of glycemic control26	Reduction of hypoglycemia risk30,31
Most clinical experience39	Blood sugar−dependent mode of action19,20	Reduction of insulin-associated weight gain, by decreasing insulin dose25,32
No maximum dose-effect threshold39	Counter-regulation of hypoglycemia30,31
Beneficial effects on hypertriglyceridemia18	No weight gain25,32 Primarily targets postprandial glycemia8 Oral administration26
Disadvantages: insulin	Disadvantages: incretins	Disadvantages: combination insulin and linagliptin
Blood sugar−independent mode of action15	Lack of long-term safety evaluations8	Lack of long-term safety evaluations8
Mode of administration39	Decline of insulin-releasing effect with progressive beta cell failure24
Associated with weight gain32
High risk for hypoglycemia29