title: Type 2 diabetes: glycemic targets and oral therapies for older patients.
abstract: In older patients with type 2 diabetes, life expectancy and the presence of microvascular complications determine the appropriate intensity of glucose control. The available antidiabetic agents offer many options for achieving glycemic targets, based on the needs of the individual patient. New stimulators of insulin secretion include glimepiride (a sulfonylurea) and repaglinide (a meglitinide). The biguanide metformin is especially useful in obese, insulin-resistant patients. Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors such as acarbose and miglitol act locally in the GI tract to reduce postprandial excursion in glucose levels. The insulin-sensitizing drug troglitazone enhances insulin-mediated glucose disposal. When troglitazone is used, careful monitoring of patients' liver function is required.
authors.affiliation: University of Nevada School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lardinois
mesh_terms: D017485:1-Deoxynojirimycin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D020909:Acarbose; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002219:Carbamates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005944:Glucosamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000145:classification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050112:Imino Pyranoses; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014312:Trisaccharides / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002219:Carbamates; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D050112:Imino Pyranoses; D010880:Piperidines; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds; D014312:Trisaccharides; C045621:miglitol; D017485:1-Deoxynojirimycin; C072379:repaglinide; C057619:glimepiride; D008687:Metformin; D005944:Glucosamine; D020909:Acarbose