Diabetologia (2003) 46[Suppl1]:M1 DOI 10.1007/s00125-002-1007-2 E. Standl have a pivotal role in the development of cardiovascular dis- ease. In particular, epidemiological studies, showing a strong independent relationship between excessive postprandial glu- Type 2 diabetes is an increasingly prevalent, chronic disease cose and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, have re- occurring in about 4% of the general population and up to 20 cently gained support from a large meta-analysis involving to 30% in high-risk groups in Western countries. Although more than 95 000 people from 22 studies. Moreover, increased Type 2 diabetes is well known to contribute to a variety of mi- risk of cardiovascular disease is known to occur early in the disease process and extends throughout the glycaemic spec- crovascular complications, it is also associated with a two- to fourfold increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease com- trum to impaired glucose tolerance and even normal glucose pared with the non-diabetic population. In fact, cardiovascular tolerance. disease accounts for 75% of all mortality in patients with Type Thus, in order to reduce cardiovascular disease and manage 2 diabetes. However, as less than half of the excess risk from the entire glycaemic risk in Type 2 diabetes, both excessive cardiovascular disease in Type 2 diabetes can be attributed to postprandial glucose and increased fasting plasma glucose con- classic risk factors such as dyslipidaemia and hypertension, at- centrations must be controlled, ideally early in the develop- tention has become increasingly focused on the role of hyper- ment of the disease....