Insulin resistance is the predominant early pathological defect in Type 2 d
iabetes. As well as being a risk factor for the development of Type 2 diabe
tes, insulin resistance is also associated with increased cardiovascular ri
sk and other metabolic disturbances including visceral adiposity, hyperinsu
linaemia, impaired glucose tolerance, hypertension and dyslipidaemia [1-4].
The newest approach to oral antidiabetic therapy is to target improvements
in insulin sensitivity at muscle, adipose tissue and hepatic level. This r
esults in improvements in glycaemic control and other features of the insul
in resistance syndrome, with potential long-term benefits in preventing/del
aying the onset of diabetic complications and macrovascular disease.