Research
Hormonal
Metformin (850mg twice daily) reduces the incidence of type 2 diabetes by 31% in adults with prediabetes compared to placebo, with effects persisting for up to 22 years.
If you have prediabetes and are over 60, have a BMI over 35, or had gestational diabetes, ask your doctor about Metformin. It is a proven, low-cost way to significantly lower your risk of developing full-blown diabetes, with benefits lasting for decades.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
In the ensuing 2.8 years, T2DM incidence was reduced by 58% with lifestyle intervention and by 31% with metformin compared to placebo... Significant reduction in T2DM incidence persists in the metformin group at 15-year (relative risk reduction/RRR 18%; p=0. 001) (8) and 22-year follow up (RRR 18%) (9).
Why this rating
Based on large, long-term randomized controlled trials (DPP, DPPOS) with consistent long-term follow-up.
Source
Pharmacological approaches to the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus
Priyanka Majety et al. · Frontiers in Endocrinology · 2023
DOI 10.3389/fendo.2023.1118848
narrative_reviewCited 86×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- GLP-1 receptor agonists (specifically Liraglutide 3.0mg and Semaglutide 2.4mg) significantly reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes in obese individuals with prediabetes, often outperforming placebo and sometimes matching or exceeding lifestyle interventions.Good
- Thiazolidinediones (specifically Pioglitazone) reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance, but their use is limited by adverse effects such as weight gain, fluid retention, and increased fracture risk.Good
Related findings · Hormonal
- Initial treatment for type 2 diabetes should be a combination of metformin and either an SGLT-2 inhibitor or a GLP-1 receptor agonist to achieve cardiorenal protection, rather than monotherapy or older agents like sulfonylureas.Strong
- For patients with specific monogenic obesity syndromes (leptin deficiency, POMC/PCSK1/LEPR mutations), targeted pharmacotherapy (recombinant leptin or setmelanotide) is highly effective and should be prioritized, unlike in polygenic obesity.Strong
- Continued weekly administration of 2.4 mg subcutaneous semaglutide prevents weight regain and promotes further weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity, whereas switching to placebo results in significant weight regain.Strong
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