Treatment of diabetes mellitus: Beyond glycaemic control

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus has emerged as the leading metabolic disorder worldwide, affecting more than 350 million individuals as of 2007. India is the ‘diabetic capital’ of the world, with 41 million people afflicted with the disease. The clinical importance of diabetes lies mainly in its propensity to produce macrovascular and microvascular complications, leading to cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy and foot problems, which account for considerable morbidity and mortality throughout the world.