Good glucose control is a prerequisite for the prevention of long-term complications in type 2 diabetics. In recent years, two new groups of substances have been approved for the oral treatment of type 2 diabetes: glinides and glitazones. The former are short-acting agents that promote insulin secretion and offer an alternative to the sulfonylureas, in particular in patients with irregular eating habits and high postprandial glucose peaks. The glitazones improve one of the disorders underlying type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance. They are used in particular in patients who are inadequately controlled with a sulfonylurea or metformin and who show insulin resistance. Both groups of substances are a useful addition to the antidiabetic drug armamentarium. Endpoint studies involving these substances have, however, not yet been performed.