This study compares the effects of Avandamet (rosiglitazone maleate/metformin) treatment and metformin plus sulphonylurea treatment in overweight people with type 2 diabetes.

Inclusion criteria:

• Body mass index > or = to 25 kg/m2.
• HbA1c > or =7% and < or =10% at screening.
• FPG > or = 7.0mmol/L (126mg/dL) at visit 2.
• Receiving at least 0.85g of metformin at constant dose(s) for at least 8 weeks prior to visit 1a.
• Female subjects must be postmenopausal or using effective contraceptive measures.

Exclusion criteria:

• Use of any other oral antidiabetic drug other than metformin within 12 weeks prior to screening.
• Subjects with clinically significant ongoing oedema requiring pharmacological treatment or with a history of oedema requiring pharmacological treatment.
• Subjects with a history of severe hypoglycaemia.
• Renal disease or renal dysfunction.
• Presence of clinically significant hepatic disease.
• Presence of unstable or severe angina or known NYHA grade I-IV congestive heart failure.
• Subjects who have had a previous myocardial infarction, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, coronary artery bypass graft or cerebrovascular accident within 3 months prior to screening.