Drug therapy in prediabetes

Patients with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) have been designated by American Diabetes Association (ADA, 2004) as having 'prediabetes', which indicates the higher risk of developing the disease in these patients. Prediabetes is important to recognise because of at least 2 major implications: increased risk for future diabetes and for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Pharmacotherapy in prediabetes should therefore be directed at preventing or, at least, delaying the onset of the disease as well as reducing the morbidity and mortality from atherosclerotic complications. Several drugs having different mechanisms of action, such as metformin, glitazones, acarbose, orlistat, nateglinide, glicazide, angiotensin-converting enzymes, angiotensin receptor blockers have been found to be effective in prediabetes to improve the glycaemic status, though they are still not recommended by any professional organisation.