A substantial proportion of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus do not reach 
glycemic targets, despite treatment with oral anti-diabetic drugs and basal 
insulin therapy. Several options exist for treatment intensification beyond 
basal insulin, and the treatment paradigm is complex. In this review, the 
options for treatment intensification will be explored, focusing on drug classes 
that act via the incretin system and paying particular attention to the 
short-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists exenatide and 
lixisenatide. Current treatment guidelines will be summarized and discussed. © 
2016 The Authors. Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews Published by John 
Wiley & Sons Ltd.