title: Understanding new pharmacologic therapy for type 2 diabetes.
abstract: As the understanding of diabetes continues to improve and treatment methods expand, the clinician can now offer patients with diabetes a greater chance of improved health with fewer complications from diabetes. Aggressive, early treatment of type 2 diabetes, with the goal of achieving a maximum HbA1c of 8% and an ideal of less than 7%, is both health-enhancing and cost-effective. Nonpharmacologic treatments, such as nutrition therapy, exercise, weight loss, and self-management education programs are the most important aspects of care. Pharmacologic therapy should be based on a number of factors and should be individualized for each patient. Treatment options in diabetes will continue to expand as new medications become available and further refinements in treatment decisions occur.
authors.affiliation: Northwest Physician Associates, P.C., Meadville, Pa., USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gutowski
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000451:nursing; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin