Early intervention with high-risk patients can prevent diabetes

Identifying patients at high risk of developing prediabetes is an important first step in preventing further progression of the disease. A tool, presented at the Endocrine Society's 99th annual meeting, shows promise in pinpointing patients in need of early intervention.

Prediabetes is difficult to catch due to its lack of symptoms. If left untreated, it can lead to diabetes and heart disease. Measuring the time it takes each patient to reach maximal sugar levels during an oral glucose tolerance test is one way to identify which patients are more prone to developing prediabetes, effectively giving physicians the ability to treat the disease early and prevent or delay the onset of diabetes.

"Our research may help clinicians and public health officials guide patients to better and more cost-effective decisions about risk for prediabetes" said Stephanie T. Chung, MBBS, the study's first author and an assistant clinical investigator at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

In studying the tool's effectiveness, researchers analyzed patients’ blood glucose levels before and after ingesting 75 grams of sugar in increments of 30, 60 and 90 minutes after receiving the sugar drink. Patient were then categorized into two groups—one at 30 minutes and another after 30 minutes. Patients who reached maximal sugar level after 30 minutes were shown to be at higher risk for developing prediabetes and had less pancreatic function regarding insulin production.

"Further research is needed to assess whether this tool can be used to inform primary prevention guidelines for diabetes," said Chung.