Diabetes therapy--focus on Asia: second-line therapy debate: insulin/secretagogues

The following review is based on the second part of a debate entitled 'Diabetes therapy--focus on Asia: 2nd line therapy: GLP1/DPP4 inhibitors versus Secretagogue/insulin therapy', which was held during the '1st Asia Pacific Congress on Controversies to Consensus in Diabetes, Obesity and Hypertension (CODHy)', in Shanghai, China, 2011. As such we reviewed only insulin and secretagogue therapy despite the existence of other therapeutic options. The article aims to shed light on the circumstances most adequate for use of these as second-line agents, despite possible drawbacks. It is important to emphasize that regardless of it being a review of published evidence, it primarily represents the professional opinion of the writers.