1st International Congress on “Prediabetes”
The 1st International Congress on "Prediabetes" and the Metabolic Syndrome was held from April 13 - 16, 2005 in Berlin, Germany. Bayer HealthCare participated in this congress with a satellite symposium chaired by Jean-Louis Chiasson, Canada, “Acarbose – a therapeutic bridge between pre- and established type 2 diabetes“.
The Satellite Symposium: Acarbose – a Therapeutic Bridge between pre- and established Type 2 Diabetes
Studies have highlighted the high global prevalence of prediabetes and metabolic syndrome, prompting improved definitions of and intense research into these two disorders over the last decade. Individuals with prediabetes and metabolic syndrome have been shown to be at high risk for both type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD), which ultimately have massive impacts on public health. These individuals are therefore an ideal target for prevention strategies, and much work has been carried out to evaluate the efficacy, safety and cost of screening for and treating these high-risk individuals. The acarbose Study to Prevent Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (STOP-NIDDM), initiated in 1997, was a forerunner in the recognition and treatment of prediabetes as a modifiable risk factor for diabetes and CVD. Evidence that acarbose, an α- glucosidase inhibitor, reduces the incidences of both diabetes and cardiovascular events in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) has triggered great interest in various preventative strategies.
The important role of acarbose as a therapeutic bridge between pre- and established diabetes was discussed at a satellite symposium at the congress on 13 April, and its content is summarised in this report.
