Popular weight-loss drugs may prevent prediabetes from turning into diabetes

Adults with prediabetes and obesity who took GLP-1-based medications had a 31% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes and a 41% lower risk of death compared with those taking metformin.

Metformin is an oral medication used primarily to treat type 2 diabetes, widely considered the first-line treatment, combined with lifestyle modifications. It is also sometimes prescribed to people with prediabetes to help prevent or delay progression.

The findings, which come from a large observational study, are set to be presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026 this weekend in Chicago. They have not yet undergone the full peer review process.

DR OZ LINKS OBESITY TO CHRONIC DISEASE SURGE, SAYS GLP-1S CAN ‘JUMPSTART’ BETTER HEALTH

The study involved health records for 256,492 adults with prediabetes and obesity, averaging 52 years of age. 

Approximately half of the group received GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) medications – including semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide and dulaglutide – and half received metformin.

Based on a three-year follow-up, in addition to the lower risk of diabetes and all-cause mortality, GLP-1–based medications were associated with 20% fewer strokes, 15% fewer heart attacks and 25% fewer cases of heart failure.

“The 41% lower risk of death from any cause surprised me most,” study author Vinicius de Sousa Barzon Serra, M.D., a research fellow in the department of cardiovascular medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, told Fox News Digital.

POPULAR DIET SLASHES LIVER FAT BY 67% WHILE REVERSING PREDIABETES IN SOME PEOPLE

“I expected GLP-1 medications to do better than metformin on blood sugar and diabetes risk, because they lead to much more weight loss. I was also struck that the benefit appeared across many outcomes, including heart attack, stroke, heart failure and atrial fibrillation.”

Nearly 40% of U.S. adults have prediabetes, according to statistics from the AHA. That condition is marked by blood sugar levels that are above normal but not yet elevated enough for a diabetes diagnosis.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

As many as 10% of those with prediabetes will go on to develop type 2 diabetes each year.

“Most earlier research on these medications focused on people who already had diabetes,” Serra noted. “Our study suggests the prediabetes stage may be an important time to consider them, rather than waiting until they develop type 2 diabetes.”

Dr. Bradley Serwer, an interventional cardiologist and chief medical officer at VitalSolution, an Ingenovis Health company that offers cardiovascular and anesthesiology services to hospitals nationwide, agreed that the study raises the possibility that GLP-1 medications could play a large role in primary cardiovascular prevention.  

“We have long known the benefits of controlling blood pressure, cholesterol and urging smoking cessation, but now we should consider aggressively treating obesity and metabolic dysfunction,” Serwer, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.

While the study found a link between GLP-1 medications and better health outcomes, it does not prove that the drugs were responsible.

The findings are preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal, Serra noted.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

“We matched patients by age, health conditions and other characteristics to make the groups comparable … even so, other differences between the groups may remain,” he said. “We also grouped the GLP-1 medications together, so we could not tell whether individual drugs differ.”

The study relied on patients’ electronic health records, which may have contained missing or incorrect information. It is also possible that factors not measured in the study, such as medication dosage and compliance, could have influenced the results, the researchers noted.

People with prediabetes and obesity should talk with their doctor about all their options and should not stop or change any medication on their own, Serra advised.

“Metformin is a safe, inexpensive option with a long track record, and lifestyle changes such as healthy eating, regular physical activity and weight management remain the foundation of treatment,” he emphasized to Fox News Digital.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

“For some patients, a GLP-1 medication may be worth discussing, depending on their overall health, other medical conditions, cost and access. The decision should be made together with their doctor.”

Serwer emphasized the importance of identifying patients who would benefit most from aggressive treatment to prevent cardiovascular disease. 

“Not everyone with prediabetes needs a GLP-1 medication,” he said. “We need to identify those with obesity, insulin resistance and multiple cardiovascular risk factors who are most likely to benefit from early intervention.”

Read More​Health News Today on Fox News c7380997-0022-5d18-9ab9-9b0b9fbd6cff, fnc, Fox News, fox-news/health, fox-news/health/diabetes, fox-news/health/healthy-living/medications, fox-news/lifestyle, fox-news/health/medical-research, fox-news/health/nutrition-and-fitness/weight-loss, fox-news/health, article ​