TY - JOUR T1 - Some oral antidiabetic medications may prevent Type 2 diabetes in people at high risk for it, but the evidence is insufficient to determine whether the potential benefits outweigh the possible risks JF - Evidence Based Medicine JO - Evid Based Med SP - 111 LP - 112 DO - 10.1136/ebmed-2011-100332 VL - 17 IS - 4 AU - Andrew J Krentz Y1 - 2012/08/01 UR - http://ebm.bmj.com/content/17/4/111.abstract N2 - Commentary on: Phung OJ, Sood NA, Sill BE, et al. Oral anti-diabetic drugs for the prevention of Type 2 diabetes. Diabet Med 2011;28:948–64.OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed Type 2 diabetes has its origins in obesity-associated insulin resistance compounded by a progressive inability to secrete adequate amounts of insulin in compensation. Clinical trials have shown that non-pharmacological strategies can reduce the risk of progression of glucose intolerance to diabetes in obese glucose-intolerant individuals. All too often however, clinical practice exposes the difficulties that many people have in achieving and sustaining lifestyle changes. Alternative strategies for diabetes prevention have therefore been sought. In this meta-analysis, Phung et al identified randomised controlled studies (placebo or active comparator) of at least 3 months duration that each enrolled at least 20 participants. In addition to a conventional meta-analysis, the authors performed a mixed-treatment comparison. The aim of the latter analysis was … ER -