Identifying prediabetes - Is it beneficial in the long run?

The rates of long-term diabetes related complications have declined substantially over the past decade. On the contrary, the growth in the incidence of prediabetes is note-worthy - especially in the population 60 years and above. As a result, the focus is now shifting toward early identification and prevention of diabetes. Prediabetes is a high risk state in the continuum of glycemic progression and beta cell dysfunction toward the development of diabetes mellitus. Observational studies have shown association of prediabetes with increased incidence of vascular complications. Long-term prospective randomized clinical trials across the globe have demonstrated a reduction in progression of prediabetes when lifestyle modifications are adopted and these effects can last up to 20 years beyond the period of intervention. While there has been recent interest in using pharmacotherapy for diabetes prevention, they have not been shown to be superior to lifestyle changes. This review hopes to provide a concise summary for the interested reader.