Combination therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a complex metabolic and cardiovascular disorder with at least eight distinct pathophysiologic abnormalities. No one antidiabetic agent can reverse all eight of these pathogenic disturbances and successful treatment requires multiple agents used in combination. In the present chapter the use of combination therapy in two clinical situations is reviewed: (i) initiation of combination therapy in newly diagnosed T2DM patients, and (ii) add-on therapy in T2DM patients inadequately controlled with one or more oral agents.