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Abstract
Diabetes is a heterogeneous metabolic disorder having common features of chronic hyperglycaemia causing imbalance in carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolisms. Irregular insulin secretions or action or both can lead to hyperglycaemia in diabetes. Today, diabetes mellitus has become the most common cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Approximately, 80 % of the total diabetes burden is carried by the low and middle-income countries. It has affected more than 425 million people at present, and it was estimated that this number may increase up to 693 million by 2045. Several classes of anti-hyperglycaemic agents are used as mono or combination therapy to treat diabetes mellitus. These include meglitinides, biguanides, sulphonyl ureas, α-glucosidase inhibitors, thiazolidinediones, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors and incretin mimetics.