Prevention of type 2 diabetes in the prediabetic population

Prevention of diabetes has been tried by several groups with varying degree of success. Prediabetic population are the ideal target for the purpose. In this study, prediabetic subjects are selected from the high-risk groups, like those having obesity, family history of diabetes, past history of gestational diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia; and are included in the study when their fasting plasma glucose was found to be below 110 mg/dl and 2 hours postglucose (75g) plasma glucose remained between 110 and 200 mg/dl. After giving advice for lifestyle changes to all for a period of 3 months, those who had their blood glucose values in the impaird glucose tolerance (IGT) range were given either metformin, rosiglitazone or acarbose, the rest continued with diet and exercise only. Total follow-up period was 3 years. All groups maintained blood sugar in the euglycaemic range till the end of the 3-year period.