Treatment of postprandial hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes.

Healthcare providers usually assess glycemic control in diabetic patients by measuring fasting plasma glucose and preprandial glucose levels, as well as hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Evidence now suggests that elevated postprandial glucose concentrations may contribute to suboptimal glycemic control. Several medications and insulins are available that have proved valuable for obtaining better control of blood glucose levels after meals. These agents may be particularly useful for managing patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes and those who have near normal preprandial blood glucose levels but elevated HbA1c values. This article discusses the efficacy of some of these agents as monotherapy and in combination with other drugs.