Abstract

Prediabetic is a state when the blood sugar level is high but not reaching the diagnostic status of diabetes mellitus. As defined by American Diabetic Association (ADA), it includes impaired fasting glucose (FBS 5.6-6.9mmol/L) and/or impaired glucose tolerance (glucose 7.8-11.0mmol/L, 2 hours after ingestion of a 75-g oral glucose load) and/or HbA1c 5.7-6.4%. The risk of progressing to diabetes is greater in patient with both IFG and IGT compared with isolated IFG or isolated IGT alone [1,2]. Although patients with prediabetes are asymptomatic, but they carry comparable macrovascular complication and retinopathy like diabetes mellitus. The progression to type 2 DM may vary from one individual to another depend on degree of insulin deficiency/resistance along with other risk factors. Several risk factors have been contributing to the development of prediabetes and it is almost like that factor related to development of type 2DM. These include increasing age, physical inactivity, obesity (BMI>=30KG/M²), family history of DM 2, High risk ethnic groups and past history of GDM and PCOS. Several approaches have been tried to manage prediabetic status to delay and/or prevent the progression to DM2 including pharmacological approach and lifestyle management. This article will give an overview about the use of metformin as a treatment of prediabetes.

Keywords:Prediabetes; Metformin; Sedentary lifestyle