Review
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Diabetes. Mar 15, 2024; 15(3): 361-377
Published online Mar 15, 2024. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v15.i3.361
Metabolic disorders in prediabetes: From mechanisms to therapeutic management
Wen-Xin Ping, Shan Hu, Jing-Qian Su, Song-Ying Ouyang
Wen-Xin Ping, Shan Hu, Jing-Qian Su, Song-Ying Ouyang, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, Fujian Province, China
Co-first authors: Wen-Xin Ping and Shan Hu.
Co-corresponding authors: Jing-Qian Su and Song-Ying Ouyang.
Author contributions: Ping WX conceived, designed, and refined the idea of the article; Hu S contributed ideas; and all authors participated in, read, and approved the final manuscript. Ping WX and Hu S contributed equally to this review as co-first authors. Ping WX and Hu S were designated as co-first authors for two reasons. First, this review was a collaborative effort, and the designation of co-first authors accurately reflects the responsibility for the effort required to complete the paper. It also ensured effective communication and post-submission management, which ultimately improved the quality and reliability of the paper. Secondly, the overall team included authors from different fields with a variety of expertise and skills, and the designation of co-corresponding authors reflected this diversity. This also contributed to the most comprehensive and in-depth exploration of this review, ultimately enriching the reader's understanding by providing different expert perspectives. The selection of these two individuals as co-first authors recognizes and respects their equal contribution and acknowledges the collaborative spirit of this team.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 31770948, No. 31570875, and No. 81803547; Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province, No. 2021J01204; and Fujian Provincial Regional Development Project, No. 2021N3005.
Conflict-of-interest statement: There is no conflict of interest associated with any of the senior author or other coauthors contributed their efforts in this manuscript.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Jing-Qian Su, PhD, Associate Professor, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, No. 8 Xuefu South Road, Fuzhou 350117, Fujian Province, China. sjq027@fjnu.edu.cn
Received: November 30, 2023
Peer-review started: November 30, 2023
First decision: December 29, 2023
Revised: January 4, 2024
Accepted: February 7, 2024
Article in press: February 7, 2024
Published online: March 15, 2024
Processing time: 106 Days and 0.4 Hours
Abstract

Diabetes, one of the world's top ten diseases, is known for its high mortality and complication rates and low cure rate. Prediabetes precedes the onset of diabetes, during which effective treatment can reduce diabetes risk. Prediabetes risk factors include high-calorie and high-fat diets, sedentary lifestyles, and stress. Consequences may include considerable damage to vital organs, including the retina, liver, and kidneys. Interventions for treating prediabetes include a healthy lifestyle diet and pharmacological treatments. However, while these options are effective in the short term, they may fail due to the difficulty of long-term implementation. Medications may also be used to treat prediabetes. This review examines prediabetic treatments, particularly metformin, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, vitamin D, and herbal medicines. Given the remarkable impact of prediabetes on the progression of diabetes mellitus, it is crucial to intervene promptly and effectively to regulate prediabetes. However, the current body of research on prediabetes is limited, and there is considerable confusion surrounding clinically relevant medications. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the pathogenesis of pre-diabetes mellitus and its associated therapeutic drugs. The ultimate goal is to facilitate the clinical utilization of medications and achieve efficient and timely control of diabetes mellitus.

Keywords: Prediabetes; Glucagon-like peptide agonists; Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors; Vitamin D; Chinese herbal medicines

Core Tip: Addressing the global impact of diabetes, this review underscores the pivotal role of pre-diabetes as a precursor and the window of opportunity it offers for reducing diabetes risk. While interventions like lifestyle changes and pharmacological treatments prove effective in the short term, sustained implementation remains challenging. The review delves into the potential of medications, including metformin and other agents, shedding light on the current limitations in research and clinical confusion. By providing a comprehensive overview, the paper aims to enhance understanding, enabling more efficient and timely control of diabetes mellitus.