Scientists at King's College London discovered that people who bring their blood‑sugar back to normal can lower the chance of serious heart problems by more than 50%.
Why This Matters
When blood‑sugar stays high, the body is under stress and the heart can become weak. Getting the sugar level back to a healthy range can protect the heart and keep it working well.
How Many People Are Affected?
Prediabetes means blood‑sugar is higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes. Over one billion adults worldwide have this condition. In the UK, about one‑in‑five adults have diabetes or prediabetes. In the US, more than one‑in‑three adults are affected, and in China the number rises to four‑in‑ten.
Long‑Term Study Results
Researchers looked at two big studies: the U.S. Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study and the Chinese DaQing Diabetes Prevention Outcomes Study. Both followed people with prediabetes for many years.
People who managed to reverse prediabetes saw a 58% drop in deaths from heart disease or hospital stays for heart failure. They also had a 42% lower risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other major heart events. The benefits lasted for decades after sugar levels returned to normal.
Why Simple Lifestyle Changes May Not Be Enough
Earlier analyses showed that exercise and healthier eating alone did not cut heart risk for those with prediabetes. The new findings suggest that actually fixing the blood‑sugar problem—reaching remission—creates the biggest heart protection.
Dr. Andreas Birkenfeld said the results point to prediabetes remission as a new, fourth tool for heart prevention, alongside lowering blood pressure, reducing cholesterol, and quitting smoking.
International Collaboration
The study is part of the transCampus partnership, a joint effort between King's College London and the Dresden University of Technology. This cooperation lets scientists share resources and ideas across borders.