Type 2 diabetes: the evolution of a disease

Abstract

The heterogeneous nature of type 2 diabetes has become increasingly evident over the last 60 years, and particularly so in the last decade with the increased use of genetic fingerprinting techniques and understanding of environmental influences on the genome. The last decade has seen the expansion of the pharmacological options for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and the burgeoning of large randomized controlled trials. Whilst these trials have been designed to address important issues, many have generated more conundrums, highlighting the need for a diversity of approaches to investigate the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes and its treatment. See Golden Jubilee article: ‘‘Type 2 diabetes: how far have we come’ by Harold E Lebovitz, published in Br J Diabetes Vasc Dis 2002;2:446-449, © 2002. doi:10.1177/14746514020020060601. http://www.bjdvd.com/content/2/6.toc