New “Precision Medicine” Approach May Help Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

A team of U.S. researchers has developed a way to predict who might benefit from diabetes-prevention drugs, or lifestyle changes like weight loss and frequent exercise. The team analyzed data from more than 3,000 people in a study, all of whom had a high body mass index and abnormal results on two fasting blood sugar tests. The researchers looked at 17 health factors to create a “precision medicine” approach to diabetes prevention. Seven of the factors had the greatest impact: fasting blood sugar, long-term blood sugar (A1C level), total triglycerides, family history of high blood sugar, waist measurement, height, and waist-to-hip ratio.