[Treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus--which role do GLP-1 receptor agonists play?].

The results of the ACCORD-, ADVANCE- and VADT- and further recent studies raised doubts regarding whether the guidelined therapy of type 2 diabetes mellitus, which aims at achieving HbA1c values of < 6.5%, is always beneficial. The higher rate of severe hypoglycemia and weight gain under intensive glycemic control has raised debates of whether the current guidelines should be adopted accordingly. Modern state-of-the-art treatment should consider: a) early treatment start, b) sustained blood sugar decrease, and c) simultaneously prevention of hypoglycemia and weight gain, d) prevention of little investigated multiple glucose-lowering agents, e) easy handling and easy to be integrated into daily schedules. The present work reviews current options with regard to these requirements with special focus on the new GLP-1 receptor agonists.