Practical combination therapy based on pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes

Philip A Levin MODEL Clinical Research, Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, USA Abstract: Type 2 diabetes is a complex, chronic, and progressive condition that often necessitates the use of multiple medications to achieve glycemic goals. Clinical g...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Levin PA
Format: article
Language:EN
Published: Dove Medical Press 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doaj.org/article/d880000e07b84ec485688e6ac7a94a15
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Philip A Levin MODEL Clinical Research, Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, USA Abstract: Type 2 diabetes is a complex, chronic, and progressive condition that often necessitates the use of multiple medications to achieve glycemic goals. Clinical guidelines generally recommend intensifying pharmacotherapy if glycemic goals are not achieved after 3 months of treatment. However, for many patients with type 2 diabetes, treatment intensification is delayed or does not occur. Initiating combination therapy early in the disease course has the potential to delay disease progression and improve patient outcomes. Guidelines generally provide a list of agents that may be used in combination regimens and emphasize individualization of treatment. The purpose of this review is to discuss the rationale for combination therapy, considering treatment effects on pathophysiologic aspects of type 2 diabetes and individual drug profiles. The combination of newer antidiabetes therapies with complementary mechanisms of action provides the opportunity to target multiple sites of tissue, organ, and cellular dysfunction. Keywords: type 2 diabetes, combination therapy, oral antidiabetes drugs, insulin