What is the best treatment for prediabetes?
Worldwide, along with the increasing prevalence of obesity, the number of people with prediabetes is increasing. The diagnostic criteria for prediabetes include impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, and metabolic syndrome. The presence of two or more of these three criteria renders a person at high risk for future diabetes. The treatment goal of prediabetes is to prevent future development of type 2 diabetes and diabetes-related cardiovascular complications. The treatment approach is twofold: glycemic control and control of cardiovascular risk factors, mainly hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Intensive lifestyle modification is the mainstay of treatment in low-risk patients. When lifestyle modification fails and in high-risk patients, medications such as metformin and/or acarbose are recommended. For high-risk patients and those who progress despite intensive lifestyle modification, thiazolidinediones are also recommended. The goals for cardiovascular risk factor control are similar to those for patients with diabetes.
Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Baylor College of Medicine, 1709 Dryden, Suite 1000, Houston, TX 77030, USA. msharma@bcm.edu
Morali D
MD
Sharma
Alan J
AJ
Garber
D000293:Adolescent; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002648:Child; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011236:Prediabetic State / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*
D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin