NEW THERAPEUTIC OPTIONS IN THE TREATMENT OF TYPE-II DIABETES

Among the different options in the treatment of type II diabetes caloric restriction, weight reduction and regular exercise remains the cornerstone in the management of these patients. In case of insufficient efficacy oral hypoglycaemic agents may be added. Acarbose as a new hypoglygaemic agent provides an alternative in type II diabetics with overweight increasing the effects of caloric restriction. Among other pharmagological agents metformin has regained importance in the treatment of type II diabetics with excessive overweight. However, elderly patients and diabetics with serious organic disorders, especially those with renal insufficiency, should be excluded. Sulfonylureas are the most potent hypoglycaemic agents, but drug induced hypoglycemia is a serious side effect of this therapeutic approach. In case of insulin treatment there are good reasons to prefer insulin monotherapy to combined insulin-sulfonylurea therapy.