[Type II diabetes: diagnostic approaches, glycemia objectives and therapeutic strategies]

Type 2 diabetes is a prevalent disease, with high morbidity and mortality rates, which is usually managed by general practitioners. We will discuss the new diagnostic approaches, the glycaemic goals and the therapeutic strategies which may contribute to improve both adequate management and prognosis of diabetic patients with type 2 diabetes. As far as possible, the management should be both individualized and integrated, not only focused on blood glucose control but also on the correction of other vascular risk factors frequently associated with diabetes (mainly arterial hypertension and dyslipidaemias). Obviously, the reduction of the incidence and severity of microangiopathy and macroangiopathy diabetic complications would require a tight collaboration between general practitioners and specialized physicians.