Drug-nave , recently diagnosed subjects with type @ diabetes mellitus ( T@DM ) were randomized in an open-fashion design in a single-centre study to metformin/pioglitazone/exenatide ( triple therapy ; n = @ ) or an escalating dose of metformin followed by sequential addition of sulfonylurea and glargine insulin ( conventional therapy ; n = @ ) to maintain HbA@c levels at < @ % for @years .