Type 2 diabetes mellitus: an evolving therapeutic approach.

The ultimate or primary goal of therapy for type 2 diabetes is to prevent the mortality and morbidity related to the microvascular and macrovascular complications. It is increasingly obvious that to achieve this on a global perspective we will need to identify better and more effective strategies to prevent diabetes and its precursors, obesity and inactivity. Similarly, since a large percentage (at least 50%) of patients with type 2 diabetes are undiagnosed, we need to improve the implementation of strategies aimed at detecting this undiagnosed population. Without a diagnosis we will not prevent, detect or treat the complications of diabetes. Finally, therapy of type 2 diabetes is evolving as the evidence base for clinical decision-making grows and as new therapeutic options become available. The therapeutic approach has broadened considerably to include more intensive treatment of the diseases frequently associated with type 2 diabetes and major contributors to morbidity and mortality, namely hypertension and dyslipidaemia.