title: Type 2 diabetes mellitus: an evolving therapeutic approach.
abstract: The ultimate or primary goal of therapy for type 2 diabetes is to prevent the mortality and morbidity related to the microvascular and macrovascular complications. It is increasingly obvious that to achieve this on a global perspective we will need to identify better and more effective strategies to prevent diabetes and its precursors, obesity and inactivity. Similarly, since a large percentage (at least 50%) of patients with type 2 diabetes are undiagnosed, we need to improve the implementation of strategies aimed at detecting this undiagnosed population. Without a diagnosis we will not prevent, detect or treat the complications of diabetes. Finally, therapy of type 2 diabetes is evolving as the evidence base for clinical decision-making grows and as new therapeutic options become available. The therapeutic approach has broadened considerably to include more intensive treatment of the diseases frequently associated with type 2 diabetes and major contributors to morbidity and mortality, namely hypertension and dyslipidaemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McElduff
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D008687:Metformin