Drug that could prevent people developing diabetes

The disease occurs when people cannot produce enough insulin, or do not respond to it properly. Insulin is the essential hormone that helps sugars to be turned into body fuel.

See also:

• Our guide to diabetes

People with an impaired ability to regulate their use of glucose are at high risk of type 2 diabetes.

Researchers found that the drug rosiglitazone, also known by the brand name Avandia, reduced the chances of these patients developing diabetes by two-thirds when combined with lifestyle changes.

A trial called Dream, conducted by Canadian scientists, investigated the effect of the drug on 5,269 high-risk adults who were either given rosiglitazone or a dummy placebo.

After three years, 280 individuals taking the drug and 658 on the placebo developed diabetes. A small risk of non-fatal heart failure was also observed in the rosiglitazone group.

The findings were published online today by The Lancet medical journal.

The researchers, led by Dr Hertzel Gerstein from the Population Health Research Institute in Hamilton, Ontario, wrote: "The results of this study suggest that the addition of rosiglitazone to basic lifestyle recommendations substantially reduces the risk of developing diabetes by about two-thirds, offering a novel preventive approach.

"Balancing both the benefits and the risks suggests that for every 1,000 people treated with rosiglitazone for three years, about 144 cases of diabetes will be prevented, with an excess of four to five cases of congestive heart failure."

Around 2.1 million people in the UK have diabetes, and 1.8 million have the type 2 disease. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition which occurs when the pancreas stops making insulin, and generally affects younger people.

Type 2 diabetes is mainly confined to people over the age of 40, and takes effect gradually. It is strongly associated with obesity.

Cathy Moulton, care adviser at the charity Diabetes UK, said: "These results are interesting, but it would be wrong to assume that we can solve the epidemic of type 2 diabetes by taking a tablet.

"Studies in the US and Finland have shown that small lifestyle changes are effective in delaying or preventing type 2 diabetes. We already strongly recommend that people at risk should be incorporating increased levels of physical activity into their daily lives along with managing their weight.

"Our 'Measure Up' campaign urges the nation to measure their waists, a simple test to help identify those at risk of diabetes. Further research may show that the use of this drug will be of value to certain individuals."