People with prediabetes who return their blood sugar levels to a normal range may significantly reduce their chances of developing major cardiovascular problems, according to new research from King's College London published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
The study found that reversing prediabetes by normalizing blood glucose levels was associated with more than a 50% reduction in the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease or being hospitalized for heart failure.
The findings are particularly noteworthy because recent research has suggested that lifestyle changes alone, such as exercising more, losing weight, and improving diet, do not appear to reduce cardiovascular risk in people with prediabetes.
Taken together, the results point to prediabetes remission as a potentially powerful new target for preventing heart disease and improving long-term health outcomes. The findings could also influence how doctors approach treatment for people with prediabetes.
"This study challenges one of the biggest assumptions in modern preventative medicine. For years, people with prediabetes have been told that losing weight, exercising more and eating healthier will protect them from heart attacks and early death. While these lifestyle changes are unquestionably valuable, the evidence does not support that they reduce heart attacks or mortality in people with prediabetes. Instead, we show that remission of prediabetes is associated with a clear reduction in fatal cardiac events, heart failure, and all-cause mortality," explained study lead author Dr. Andreas Birkenfeld, Reader in Diabetes, King's College London and University Hospital Tuebingen.
