[Oral hypoglycaemic agents in 2009]. / Orale Antidiabetika 2009.

Various new oral hypoglycaemic agents have been developed recently and have changed the therapy of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Six different classes of agents are available: Biguanides, sulfonylureas, glinides, glitazones, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors. The increasing number of these drugs does not facilitate the choice of the best medication for an individual patient. In the article we describe the specific mechanisms of action, side effects, advantages and disadvantages of the different agents. Every drug therapy should be supported by lifestyle changes. Despite all the new drugs type 2 diabetes is still a chronic and slowly progressive disease without chance of cure. Therefore, it is important to prevent type 2 diabetes by normalizing body weight and increasing physical exercise.