Incretin
In plain language
A gut hormone released when you eat that tells the body to produce insulin and helps control blood sugar.
Technical definition
Any of the intestinal hormones — principally GLP-1 and GIP — released in response to nutrient intake that potentiate glucose-dependent insulin secretion, an effect known as the incretin effect.
The “incretin effect” describes why an oral glucose load triggers more insulin release than the same amount of glucose given intravenously — the gut signals the pancreas via these hormones. Most modern GLP-1 and dual agonist drugs are based on this biology.