Novel treatments for type 2 diabetes

Jason Seewoodhary's article in the January Journal,¹ presents an optimistic view of the currently available alternatives to the standard treatments for type 2 diabetes.

However, he makes no mention of the cost of these newer agents, nor the fact that long-term studies of their effectiveness, not just in reducing HbA_1c levels but in reducing morbidity and mortality, are lacking.

In view of the recent thiazolidinedione withdrawal, and that of troglitazone in the past, it is hard to develop enthusiasm for these newer agents, especially since, for many, their mode of action is to squeeze more insulin out of an already failing pancreas.