ObjectiveTo explore the effects of metformin combined with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor for treatment on blood glucose level, oxidative stress and inflammatory response in patients with type 2 diabetes. MethodA total of 120 patients with type 2 diabetes who were admitted to our hospital from July 2018 to July 2020 were selected as the research objects, and they were divided into observation group and control group by the random number method, with 60 cases in each group. The control group was treated with metformin hydrochloride, based on which the observation group was treated with saxagliptin, for a 6-month continuous treatment course. The blood glucose, oxidative stress indexes and inflammatory factors levels before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. ResultsBefore treatment, there were no statistically significant differences in fasting blood glucose (FPG) and 2h postprandial blood glucose (2hPG) levels between the two groups (P>0.05). After 6 months of treatment, the FPG and 2hPG levels significantly decreased in both groups, and the observation group yielded lower levels as compared with the control group, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), lipid hydrogen peroxide (LHP) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) between the two groups before treatment (P>0.05). After 6 months of treatment, the MDA and LHP levels significantly decreased, whereas the GSH-Px level significantly increased in both groups, and the patients in the observation group obtained lower levels of MDA and LHP, whereas a higher level of GSH-Px as compared with the control group, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) between the two groups before treatment (P>0.05). After 6 months of treatment, the levels mentioned above decreased in both groups, and the levels of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). ConclusionMetformin combined with DPP-4 inhibitor for treatment can significantly decrease blood glucose level in patients with type 2 diabetes, significantly improve the oxidative stress status of patients, and reduce the levels of inflammatory response in patients.