Focus on Avandamet

Type 2 diabetes accounts for over 90% of diabetes in Australia. Although glycaemic control can be improved with a healthy diet and physical activity, many patients find long term adherence to these lifestyle measures difficult. Oral hypoglycaemic medications and then insulin are usually required. In the UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS), most participants progressed steadily from lifestyle modification alone to tablets and then to insulin in order to keep their glycosylated haemoglobin (A_1c) on target; after nine years, most were taking oral hypoglycaemic medications and/or insulin (Figure 1). Most patients with type 2 diabetes require multiple medications to keep their ABCss on target (the ABCss of diabetes care are listed in the Table). These medications are over and above those for coexisting medical conditions, such as arthritis, reflux, depression and insomnia.