A review of published literature about benefits and harms of oral drugs for type 2 diabetes mellitus found that older agents, such as second-generation sulfonylureas and metformin, have similar or superior effects on glycemic control, lipids and other intermediate endpoints compared to newer, more expensive drugs, such as thiazolidinediones, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors and meglitinides.
This is the first systematic review to compare all the drugs with one another, summarizing all available data on the full range of intermediate end-points, such as hemoglobin A1c, lipids, and body weight as well as on adverse effects and macrovascular risks.Authors say that comparative evidence is urgently needed to guide appropriate therapy, as new oral diabetes drugs continue to emerge on the market.
This review is published early online at HTTP://WWW.ANNALS.ORG/CGI/CONTENT/FULL/0000605-200709180-00178V1
Source-Eurekalert
JAY/M
