Peter Burrill

Strategies for the cost-effective use of oral antidiabetic drugs

The UK prevalence of diabetes continues to increase, alongside the development of new drug classes and management guidelines. As a result, prescriptions for and spending on antidiabetic drugs continue to grow. In this article the authors discuss how to maximise treatment results and minimise spending by optimising each step in the diabetes management pathway. Copyright

DiGEM: value of glucose self-monitoring in type 2 diabetes

A randomised controlled trial published in a peer‐reviewed journal is considered to be the ‘gold standard’ of information about the effectiveness of a treatment; however, critical appraisal of trials is required in order to judge the value and implications of the results. Here, the author presents an appraisal of the DiGEM study, which considered the effectiveness of self‐monitoring of blood glucose in patients with noninsulin‐treated diabetes.

Anticholinergics, not beta-agonists, reduce exacerbations in COPD

A randomised controlled trial published in a peer‐reviewed journal is considered to be the ‘gold standard’ of information about the effectiveness of a treatment; however, critical appraisal of trials is required in order to judge the value and implications of the results. Here, the author presents an appraisal of a study comparing the efficacy of beta‐agonists and anticholinergics in COPD.