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.
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, IPGME&R, Kolkata.
Pradip
P
Mukhopadhyay
Subhankar
S
Chowdhury
D020909:Acarbose / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011236:Prediabetic State / Q000188:drug therapy*; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000627:therapeutic use
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D008687:Metformin; D020909:Acarbose