PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Jeff Curtis AU - Charlton Wilson TI - Preventing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus AID - 10.3122/jabfm.18.1.37 DP - 2005 Jan 01 TA - The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice PG - 37--43 VI - 18 IP - 1 4099 - http://www.jabfm.org/content/18/1/37.short 4100 - http://www.jabfm.org/content/18/1/37.full SO - J Am Board Fam Med2005 Jan 01; 18 AB - Type 2 diabetes is a serious, costly, and increasingly common disease. Several conditions commonly seen in family medicine settings confer increased risk of developing diabetes. Among these conditions are impaired glucose tolerance, impaired fasting glucose, obesity, gestational diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and menopause. We here present the results of a systematic review of the literature examining the evidence for different strategies aimed at preventing type 2 diabetes in patients with these conditions. The strongest evidence supports an intensive lifestyle intervention designed to induce modest weight loss. The greatest degree of prevention, based on lesser quality evidence, may be imparted by bariatric surgery. Metformin and troglitazone have appreciable evidence in specific populations, and orlistat and acarbose have slightly less evidence among obese patients, for preventing diabetes. Ramipril, captopril, losartan, pravastatin, and estrogens show some very preliminary promise for preventing diabetes in patients treated for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and menopause, but each needs a more rigorous evaluation. Although more questions remain to be answered, family physicians now have tools available to help our patients lead lives free of diabetes.