A study published in JAMA reports that the drugpioglitazone is more effective at reducing the rate of plaque build-upin the coronary arteries than the drug glimepiride. Both medicationsare designed to treat type 2 diabetes (also known as adult-onsetdiabetes).For patients with diabetes, atherosclerosis - the process in whichplaque sticks to the inner lining of the arteries - can be quiteaggressive and result in higher rates of cardiovascular events.