Type 2 diabetes mellitus is one component of the metabolic syndrome. The treatment of the metabolic syndrome includes the control of hyperglycaemia, which represents one aspect of the management of this complex disease. Indeed, the intensive treatment of hyperglycaemia is clearly associated with the prevention of the micro- and macro-vascular complications. This review describes how to use oral antidiabetic agents: sulfonylurea, glinide, biguanide, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors and glitazone.