title: [Non-insulin-dependent diabetes: from physiopathology to treatment].
abstract: Non-insulin-dependent (or type 2) diabetes mellitus is a common, underdiagnosed and growing disease in our society. It is responsible for increased morbidity and mortality and represents an important public health problem. This polygenic disease is often expressed late in life and its evolution is accelerated by environmental factors leading to obesity. It combines defects in both insulin secretion and insulin action, and such defects are present in various proportions according to the type of patient and the stage of the disease. Diet and physical activity recommendations are the basis of the treatment. Current pharmacological approaches aim at improving insulin secretion and/or insulin cellular action. After secondary failure to oral drugs, insulin therapy should be initiated, the patient becoming "insulin-requiring". A synergy should be searched in the combination of various therapeutic modalities in order to improve the glycaemic control.
authors.affiliation: Service de Diabétologie, Nutrition et Maladies métaboliques, département de Médecine, CHU du Sart Tilman, Liège.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Scheen
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Lefebvre
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003927:Diet, Diabetic; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin