?⤠Extend analysis of existing data and data sources - There are already a plethora of data and data sources that could be potentially valuable in individualizing therapy; however, to date, these have been largely underutilized. Pooled analyses or meta-analyses of such data may provide important insights into the relative effectiveness of specific interventions in subgroups of patients with type 2 diabetes and advance our understanding of individualized therapy.

?⤠Expand existing or develop new data registries - All new and existing diabetes registries should systematically collect data to address phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity measures. Not only should these registries collect material for future biomarker and genetic analysis, but registries should be designed to specifically address the heterogeneity of diabetes with hypotheses generated by examining existing data.

?⤠Develop new clinical trials - Future randomized studies of diabetes therapies should, by design, collect phenotypic information relevant to response to therapy.

?⤠Develop new technologies - Targeting therapy toward more appropriate subgroups of patients will require increasingly accurate and efficient methods to measure markers for diabetes heterogeneity and heterogeneous response to treatment.

?⤠Expand basic research - Basic research is needed to explore numerous fundamental issues that underlie the heterogeneous response to diabetes therapies.

The statement, "Individualizing Therapies in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Based on Patient Characteristics: What We Know and What We Need to Know," will appear in the April 2010 issue of JCEM.

Source: Endocrine Society