[Metformin is the oral antidiabetic drug of choice for patients with type 2 diabetes. Its effect is predominantly based on the reduction of insulin resistance by inhibiting hepatic glucose production. Metformin can be used as an initial oral antidiabetic drug at the start of, or in case of the failure of lifestyle modifications. Metformin is also used in dual or triple oral antidiabetic combinations, however, its use should not be suspended even if initiation of insulin therapy is indicated in patients with type 2 diabetes. Metformin does not increase bodyweight and the risk of hypoglycaemia, and recent data suggest that it decreases the risk of tumour development. Today, an extended- release (XR) formulation is also available besides the traditional one, which not only simplifies the treatment, but might also reduce the incidence of gastrointestinal adverse effects.]

[Six-to-eight years after the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes the majority of patients require insulin treatment. Premixed insulin therapy provides an insulin profile that is closer to the physiological profile than that achieved by basal insulin supplementation and, in some cases, may serve as an alternative treatment in patients for whom intensified insulin therapy is unsuitable. However, if premixed human insulins are used, nocturnal hypoglycaemia occurs relatively frequently. Furthermore, patients must keep a lag-time of 30-45 minutes between the injection of insulin and eating. In contrast, if premixed insulin analogues are used, there is no need for such lag-time and both nocturnal and severe hypoglycaemia are less frequent than with human premixed therapy. The superiority of premixed insulin analogues compared with premixed human insulin therapy has been confirmed by a number of prospective, randomised controlled trials and retrospective analyses. The author summarises the results of these studies, emphasising the beneficial effects of premixed insulin analogues in the therapy of type 2 diabetes.]

[Objectives: Was to evaluate 10-year probability of hip fracture and a major osteoporotic fracture using the FRAX algorithm, vitamin D status, bone mineral density (BMD) and biochemical markers of bone turnover in men over 50 years of age with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). We compared FRAX-predicted 10-year fracture probability, levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D), markers of bone turnover and bone mineral density at L1-L4 (LS) and femur neck (FN) in 68 men with T2DM with an age- and gender-matched group (n=68). The mean (range) age of the T2DM group was 61.4 (51-78) years. The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D (25-OH-D <75 nmol/L) was 59%. The mean (range) FRAX hip fracture and FRAX major osteoporotic fracture was 0.7 (0-2.8)% and 3.2 (0-8.5)%, respectively. BMD at the FN (0.974 gm/cm2 vs. 0.915 gm/cm2; p = 0.008) and LS (1.221 gm/cm2 vs. 1.068 gm/cm2; p < 0.001) was significantly higher in the T2DM cohort as compared to the healthy age matched males. 25-OH-vitamin D (67.7 nmol/L vs.79.8 nmol/L; p < 0.001), crosslaps (0.19 μg/L vs. 0.24 μg/L; p = 0.004) and osteocalcin (13.3 μg/L vs. 15.7 μg/L; p = 0.004) were significantly lower in the T2DM group. There was no difference in FRAX-related fracture probability between the two groups. The increased BMD in T2DM and the lack of inclusion of T2DM as a risk factor in the FRAX algorithm are probable explanations for the discordance between literature-observed and FRAX-related fracture probabilities.]

[Incretin mimetics represent a new group of antidiabetic drugs. They bind to their own receptor on the beta-cell membrane and increase insulin secretion in a glucosedependent manner. Thus, they rarely cause hypoglycaemia. Furthermore, they significantly reduce body weight and other cardiovascular risk factors. Accordingly, they can be considered as an optimal group of antidiabetic drugs. The author reviews the clinical efficacy and safety of currently available incretin mimetics.]