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Prevention of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Potential of pharmacological agents

Susan L Samson1, Alan J Garber2

  • 1Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, ABBR R615, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Best Practice & Research. Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
|July 20, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Preventing type 2 diabetes involves therapies that reduce insulin resistance, like weight loss. These treatments delay diabetes onset in high-risk individuals but do not fix the core beta cell issue.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Pre-diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and gestational diabetes history increase type 2 diabetes risk.
  • Pharmacotherapies targeting glucose and obesity are investigated for diabetes prevention.
  • Insulin resistance is a key factor in pre-diabetes progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review data on pharmacotherapies for delaying or preventing type 2 diabetes.
  • To analyze the impact of interventions on insulin resistance and beta cell function.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on glucose-lowering and anti-obesity pharmacotherapies.
  • Analysis of data concerning diabetes incidence in high-risk populations.

Main Results:

  • Therapies commonly reduce insulin resistance, lessening beta cell demand.
  • Weight loss and other interventions improve insulin secretion and beta cell longevity.
  • Interventions successfully delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.

Conclusions:

  • Pharmacotherapies can delay type 2 diabetes in at-risk individuals.
  • These treatments primarily address insulin resistance, not the underlying beta cell defect.
  • Long-term beta cell function is improved by reducing metabolic stress.
Keywords:
diabetes preventionimpaired fasting glucoseimpaired glucose toleranceobesitytype 2 diabetesweight loss

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