NEW THERAPEUTIC AGENTS OF NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES

The progress of knowledge relating to non-insulindependent diabetes me llitus (NIDDM) is associated with new therapeutic developments. Their different respective targets allow to classify them in drugs stimulati ng insulin secretion (glimepiride, repaglinide, glucagon-like peptide I), medications reducing insulin resistance (thiazolidinediones) or in insulinmimetic agents (vanadium). Alpha glucosidase inhibitors, avail able in France since 1993, constitute another therapeutic approach, re ducing postprandial hyperglycemia by delaying the digestion of complex e carbohyrates. These new medications, safer and sometimes effective i n a single daily administration, represent an alternative to classic o ral antidiabetic agents alowing therapeutic combinations and a more gl obal management of NIDDM.