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Stemming the Tide of Type 2 Diabetes: Bring on the “Big Guns”

Stemming the Tide of Type 2 Diabetes: Bring on the “Big Guns” A tidal wave of “prediabetes” and, right behind it, an epidemic of type 2 diabetes are sweeping through developed countries and threatening to do the same in developing countries. Credible estimates suggest that if nothing is done to stem the tide of hyperglycemia, the number of people with diabetes worldwide will be around half a billion within the next 20 years. And stemming that tide will require effective, long‐term methods to preserve or restore pancreatic β‐cell compensation for insulin resistance. I believe that we will need to go beyond lifestyle changes and medications if we are to win this important battle. Here's why. Over the past decade, we have learned from clinical trials that we can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in high‐risk individuals by subjecting them to lifestyle changes or medications that reduce obesity, insulin resistance, and glucose levels. These findings have led to some very hopeful public messages along the lines of “Losing a small amount of weight will prevent or delay diabetes.” Although this statement is technically true, I am concerned that it vastly underestimates the power of the enemy—obesity—to damage the pancreatic β‐cells. We must protect these cells if we are to http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Obesity Wiley

Stemming the Tide of Type 2 Diabetes: Bring on the “Big Guns”

Buchanan, Thomas A.
Obesity , Volume 18 (6) – Jun 1, 2010
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References (9)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
2010 North American Association for the Study of Obesity (NAASO)
ISSN
1930-7381
eISSN
1930-739X
DOI
10.1038/oby.2010.111
pmid
20502451
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

A tidal wave of “prediabetes” and, right behind it, an epidemic of type 2 diabetes are sweeping through developed countries and threatening to do the same in developing countries. Credible estimates suggest that if nothing is done to stem the tide of hyperglycemia, the number of people with diabetes worldwide will be around half a billion within the next 20 years. And stemming that tide will require effective, long‐term methods to preserve or restore pancreatic β‐cell compensation for insulin resistance. I believe that we will need to go beyond lifestyle changes and medications if we are to win this important battle. Here's why. Over the past decade, we have learned from clinical trials that we can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in high‐risk individuals by subjecting them to lifestyle changes or medications that reduce obesity, insulin resistance, and glucose levels. These findings have led to some very hopeful public messages along the lines of “Losing a small amount of weight will prevent or delay diabetes.” Although this statement is technically true, I am concerned that it vastly underestimates the power of the enemy—obesity—to damage the pancreatic β‐cells. We must protect these cells if we are to

Journal

Obesity – Wiley

Published: Jun 1, 2010

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