Managing recent-onset diabetes: choosing durable, well-tolerated therapies and understanding the role of incretin-based therapies.
Management of recent-onset diabetes offers osteopathic physicians the opportunity to work with patients to set treatment goals and expectations for this progressive yet manageable disease, as well as intervene early to reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications. Starting effective therapy early--and intensifying therapy appropriately--to achieve and maintain glycemic goals has been shown to reduce microvascular risks and produce legacy effects that may have macrovascular benefits. Metformin remains a cornerstone of therapy for those patients who can tolerate it. Early combination therapy that is well tolerated reduces risks of hypoglycemia or unwanted weight gain, improves patient adherence, and addresses the multifactoral pathophysiology of even recent-onset diabetes. Incretin-based therapies have been shown to be effective across the spectrum of type 2 diabetes mellitus, including recent-onset diabetes. The present article reviews the use of incretin-based therapies early in the disease process of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Director, Clinical Division, The Diabetes Institute at Ohio University, Grosvenor Hall 320, Athens, OH 45701. shubrook@ohio.edu.
Jay H
JH
Shubrook
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054795:Incretins / Q000097:blood*; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018027:Receptors, Glucagon
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D054795:Incretins; D018027:Receptors, Glucagon; D008687:Metformin