The principal inclusion criteria were: men and women aged ≥18 years with an HbA1c >6.5 and ≤10%; fasting plasma
glucose (FPG) ≤15 mmol/l; C-peptide concentration of ≥0.33 nmol/l; and metformin, or metformin plus one other
oral antidiabetic drug, administered up to half-maximum dose for at least 8 weeks before enrolmen