Conversion rate of prediabetes to diabetes in long-term followed patients

Aim: We aimed to determine the transition rate of the prediabetic state to Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the subjects for whom pharmaceutical intervention therapy was used. Method and Material: In this context, we analyzed the records of 39 prediabetic subjects who we had followed-up at approximately 3-month intervals for a mean duration of 8.77 years. The primary pharmaceutical agent used was metformin; acarbose and rosiglitazone were the other agents used. One subject used no pharmaceutical agent. Results: In the study we found a 43.6% transition rate to overt T2DM. 56.4 % of the subjects did not convert to DM and sustained their status as prediabetes. Discussion: This small but long-term study indicates the possibility that prediabetes can be at least partly prevented or T2DM onset can be delayed for years thorough pharmaceutical intervention. Furthermore, even if the prediabetic state is converted to DM, it can be managed with little intervention and we can maintain nearly the same glucose levels comparable to prediabetes.