title: Monitoring and controlling the patient with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
abstract: While the prevention of acute metabolic decompensation is no longer a serious problem in treating patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), target organ complications can have serious consequences, including blindness, renal failure, neuropathy, amputation, coronary artery disease, and stroke. The bulk of current evidence suggests that these complications can be minimized or perhaps even avoided by carefully monitoring and controlling the patient's blood glucose levels. Although criteria and standards of control differ widely in various centers, in general acceptable-to-good control in the NIDDM patient would consist of average fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels of less than 140 mg/dL and peak postprandial glucoses of less than 220 to 250 mg/dL. Treatment aimed at attaining these blood glucose levels should begin with dietary management and exercise prescription. General health measurements such as control of blood pressure and avoidance of smoking are especially important in the diabetic patient. When these approaches prove ineffectual, the addition of an oral hypoglycemic agent, preferably a second-generation sulfonylurea is indicated. Glipizide and glyburide are both excellent drug choices, although glyburide may cause hypoglycemia in older patients due to its longer half-life and especially in those with renal insufficiency because of accumulation of biologically active metabolites. In certain well-selected cases, the addition of insulin to oral sulfonylurea therapy may offer improved results over the use of either therapeutic modality alone. The advent of self blood glucose monitoring and periodic glycohemoglobin assessments, now well established in diabetic management, represents a major step forward in the endeavor to optimize standards of blood glucose control in the diabetic population.
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000628:therapy*; D003927:Diet, Diabetic; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D005082:Physical Exertion; D012907:Smoking; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007328:Insulin; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds