Preventing type 2 diabetes

The rapid and often relentless progression of type 2 diabetes suggests that high-risk patients should be provided with an equally aggressive strategy to protect their remaining beta-cell function and endogenous insulin secretion. Management of patients with prediabetes should incorporate both lifestyle and pharmacologic intervention. Although no specific recommendations are published for the management of prediabetes, one can assume that preservation of pancreatic beta-cell function, improvement in peripheral insulin resistance and pancreatic insulin secretion, reducing pancreatic alpha-cell secretion of glucagon, preventing long- and short-term diabetes-related complications, and assisting patients to loose weight are beneficial. Aggressive, timely, and physiologic management of prediabetes should be advocated.