Treatment strategies for patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Strategies for the treatment of patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus are discussed. In order to achieve treatment goals, diet and exercise remain important components of an overall treatment program that may include sulfonylurea drugs, especially in cases where patients are of normal weight or only slightly obese, have had the disease less than five years, and are taking little or no insulin. Failure to control blood sugar levels with sulfonylurea drugs may lead to combining this therapy with insulin or administering insulin alone, regardless of patients' weights.