[Recent advances in type 2 diabetes mellitus].

Currently, the oral glucose tolerance test remains the "gold standard" for diagnosing type 2 diabetes, HbA (1c) being of subordinate value because of its limited diagnostic sensitivity. Fully evaluated risk scores and questionnaires are helpful in determining individual type 2 diabetes risk profiles and may prove valuable tools in preventing this type of diabetes. Genetic studies support our current understanding of the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes. In the near future genetic data may become useful in optimizing individual preventative and therapeutic strategies. Recent data suggest that it is reasonable to adjust therapeutic aims on the specific situation of individual patients for achieving optimal results. The present therapeutic armamentarium for the treatment of type 2 diabetes has been rapidly extended over the recent years. To deal with this situation, pharmacovigilance is an essential tool to ensure drug safety and improve existing therapeutic standards. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.