[TREATMENT OF TYPE 2 DIABETES IN PATIENTS WITH HISTORY OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE].

Cardiovascular risk events are frequent in patients with type 2 diabetes. The way to treat type 2 diabetes with history of cardiovascular disease is not really different from the one used in a patient without this history with a pathophysiologic approach designed according to the importance of each therapeutic target: insulin-resistance and insulin deficiency. However, it is recommended to use antidiabetic drugs without detrimental cardiovascular effects. Metformin can be used in patients with history of cardiovascular disease (in the exception of renal failure or severe heart failure) since its use has been shown to be associated with a reduction of cardiovascular events in several clinical trials. Among sulfonylureas, first generation sulfonylureas and glibenclamide are not recommended because they impair ischemic preconditioning. Glinides, acarbose, GLP-1 agonists and DPP-4 inhibitors can be used in type 2 diabetic patients with history of cardiovascular disease. DPP-4 inhibitors have been shown to he safe in recent cardiovascular outcome trials. In addition, data from the ORIGIN trial indicate that insulin itself is not likely to increase cardiovascular risk. Most importantly, the risk of hypoglycaemia must be an important concern in patients with history of cardiovascular disease and the use of antidiabetic agents that may induce hypoglycaemic events should he limited.