Incretin mimetic
Exenatide is the first of a new class of medications approved for the treatment of type 2 Diabetes. It is to be used in conjunction with oral medications such as metformin and or a sulfonylurea to improve glucose control. The medication is injected twice per day using a specially designed pen. The typical human response is both an improvement of the release of internal insulin by the pancreas and suppression of pancreas glucagon release, behaviors more typical of individuals without blood sugar control problems. In the presence of exenatide, these responses are greater when the blood sugar is elevated.

Experimental agents
Many other potential drugs are currently in investigation by pharmaceutical companies. Some of these are simply newer members of one of the above classes, but some work by novel mechanisms.
● PPARa/g ligands ● Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors
● SGLT (sodium-dependent glucose transporter 1) inhibitors
● FBPase (fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase) inhibitors

Insulin by mouth
The basic appeal of oral hypoglycemic agents is that most people would prefer a pill to an injection. Unlike all the oral drugs described in this article, insulin is a protein. Protein hormones, like meat proteins, are digested in the stomach and gut. One alternative delivery method is by inhalation. In2006 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of Exubera, the first inhalable insulin.

Alternative Therapies
People with chronic conditions often try alternative therapies, treatments that are considered to be outside the mainstream of medical practice. In addition to activity, diet, and self-help groups, those most often recommended were laughter and humor, relaxation therapy, prayer, imagery and visualization, meditation, massage, and music therapy. Megavitamin therapy was also recommended. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases have published the following positions about alternative therapies used by diabetic patients: