Diabetes pharmacotherapy in 2012: considerations in medication selection.

Diabetes is one of the most costly and burdensome chronic diseases, and its therapy and management have become increasingly complex. The incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a multiorgan disorder, is increasing at an epidemic rate in the United States and worldwide. Despite numerous scientific and medical advances, less than half of the population with T2DM has achieved the American Diabetes Association-recommended glycated hemoglobin level goal of < 7%, which is necessary to optimally manage the disease to prevent and minimize complications. There are many patient- and clinician-determined barriers that hinder patients from achieving target blood glucose levels. Therefore, it is imperative for health care professionals who treat patients with T2DM (and those at risk for developing T2DM) to have an enhanced knowledge base of the current pathophysiology, treatment options, and clinical guidelines for T2DM and its related conditions.