title: Efficacy of voglibose in type 2 diabetes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is currently at epidemic proportions and the forecast is for a continued sharp increase in global prevalence. An even larger proportion of the population has prediabetes (impaired glucose tolerance [IGT]) underscoring the urgent need for preventive strategies. Even in the presence of adequate glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, postprandial hyperglycemia can occur and is known to have a stronger association with cardiovascular morbidity than fasting glucose. The α-glucosidase inhibitor voglibose is widely used in Japan to improve postprandial hyperglycemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review examines the literature for the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy and safety of voglibose in patients with T2DM. Particular focus is on its efficacy in preventing T2DM in individuals with IGT and its efficacy as add-on therapy or in combination with other oral antidiabetic agents in patients with T2DM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As the relationship between glucose levels and cardiovascular risk extends below the diabetic threshold, postprandial hyperglycemia is recognized as a key therapeutic target in the treatment of T2DM. Strategies to prevent the progression of IGT to overt T2DM have enormous potential to reduce the individual and societal burden of disease. Voglibose is the first oral antidiabetic agent to gain approval in Japan for this indication.
authors.affiliation: Kawasaki Medical School, Department of Internal Medicine , 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki City, Okayama 701-0192 , Japan kka@med.kawasaki-m.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Kohei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaku
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000517:prevention & control; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D018149:Glucose Intolerance; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007294:Inositol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D007294:Inositol; C102817:voglibose
keywords: impaired glucose tolerance; postprandial hyperglycemia; prevention; type 2 diabetes mellitus; voglibose