PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Alice Y.Y. Cheng AU - I. George Fantus TI - Oral antihyperglycemic therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus AID - 10.1503/cmaj.1031414 DP - 2005 Jan 18 TA - Canadian Medical Association Journal PG - 213--226 VI - 172 IP - 2 4099 - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/172/2/213.short 4100 - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/172/2/213.full SO - CMAJ2005 Jan 18; 172 AB - DIABETES MELLITUS IS A CHRONIC DISEASE that is growing in prevalence worldwide. Pharmacologic therapy is often necessary to achieve optimal glycemic control in the management of diabetes. Orally administered antihyperglycemic agents (OHAs) can be used either alone or in combination with other OHAs or insulin. The number of available OHAs has increased significantly in the last decade, which translates into more therapeutic options and complex decision-making for physicians. This review article is designed to help with these decisions. We review the mechanism of action, efficacy and side effects of the different classes of OHAs (α-glucosidase inhibitors, biguanides, insulin secretagogues, insulin sensitizers and intestinal lipase inhibitor) and discuss the current recommendations for their use.