Objective To investigate the efficacy of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist(GLP-1RA)versus dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor(DPP-4i)in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2MD)and diabetic complications.Methods One hundred and ten T2MD patients admitted to Handan First Hospital from June 2020 to June 2022 were enrolled.They were randomly divided into GLP-1RA group(n=55,received liraglutide or exenatide)and DPP-4i group(n=55,received sitagliptin or linagliptin).The aim was to compare glycolipid metabolic indexes(fasting plasma glucose[FPG],glucose hemoglobin[HbA1c],total cholesterol[TC],triacylglycerols[TAG]),inflammatory indexes(interleukin-6[IL-6],C-reactive protein[CRP],neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio[NLR]),renal function(urea nitrogen[UN],creatinine,cystatin C[cysC]),complications,adverse reactions between groups before and after treatment.The curative effect was assessed.Results The overall effective rate and total incidence of complications in the GLP-1RA group were comparable to those in the DPP-4i group(P>0.05).FPG,HbA1c,TAG,TC at week 18 of treatment in the both groups were significantly decreased,which decreased notably in the GLP-1RA group versus the DPP-4i group(P<0.05).At week 18,the levels of IL-6,CRP,NLR in the both groups were significantly decreased than before treatment(P<0.05),but no statistically significant difference in the levels of IL-6,CRP,NLR between groups(P>0.05).The intergroup differences were not statistically significant in levels of UN,creatinine,and cysC between before treatment and at week 18 of treatment(P>0.05).The overall incidence of adverse reactions was significantly higher in the GLP-1RA group versus the DPP-4i group(P<0.05).Conclusion Both GLP-1RA and DPP-4i can improve lipid levels,reduce inflammatory response,protect renal function and prevent complications in patients with T2MD,but GLP-1RA has better efficacy than DPP-4i,and DPP-4i i has better tolerated.