[Panorama of currently available treatments for patients with type 2 diabetes. The ADA/EASD treatment algorithm. Safety and tolerability]

Type 2 diabetes is defined by chronic hyperglycemia due to at least two pathogenic alterations: resistance to the action of peripheral insulin and insufficient pancreatic insulin secretion. The pharmacological treatment of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes should be individualized. The choice of specific oral drug (or combination of drugs) is based on the drug's physiological mechanism, the general recommendations of the clinical practice guidelines, systematic reviews and analysis of data from clinical trials and observational studies. In general terms, clinical practice guidelines recommend starting with lifestyle modifications together with metformin, either from the outset or at 3 months; the combination should be individualized depending on the patient's profile. Therapy may be intensified every 3-6 months until targets (HbA1c 6.5-7.5%) have been reached. To chose the second drug, both its efficacy (mechanism of action) and side effects (hypoglycemic episodes, effect on weight, intestinal effects, edema/cardiac insufficiency and renal or liver insufficiency) should be considered. The controversy on the safety of oral drugs and insulin is constantly reviewed. The cardiovascular safety of intensive hyperglycemia treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes, particularly with certain agents, is an open debate. Finally, the association between insulin and cancer has aroused huge interest but the clinical significance of this association remains uncertain and further analyses are required to clarify this issue.