Making major lifestyle changes or taking metformin both work better than a placebo pill at delaying or preventing type 2 diabetes. For many people, making major lifestyle changes works better than taking metformin to help delay or prevent type 2 diabetes for up to 10 years. A follow-up study at 15 years showed that making major lifestyle changes was about equal to taking metformin in helping to delay or prevent type 2 diabetes. But doing both of these things may give you the best chance of delaying or preventing type 2 diabetes over the long term.
The information shown here is based on the best available evidence.
Current as of:
March 1, 2023
Author: Healthwise Staff Medical Review: Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine David C.W. Lau MD, PhD, FRCPC - Endocrinology Heather Quinn MD - Family Medicine
Medical Review:Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine & David C.W. Lau MD, PhD, FRCPC - Endocrinology & Heather Quinn MD - Family Medicine