### Can Metformin Help Prediabetics Maintain Weight Loss Better Than Diet and Lifestyle Changes Alone? Doctors often recommend losing weight through a nutritious diet and exercise to prevent type 2 diabetes in people with prediabetes. However, a study published in April 2019 in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine suggests that the blood sugar-lowering drug Glucophage (metformin) may help people with prediabetes maintain their weight loss and lower their risk for type 2 diabetes. According to the CDC’s Diabetes Prevention Program, losing 5 to 10 percent of your weight in six months can improve blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. The study found that among overweight and obese people with prediabetes who initially lost 5 percent or more of their weight, those taking metformin were more likely to keep the weight off over time compared to those who made intensive lifestyle changes. The study tracked 3,234 people who were overweight or obese and had elevated blood sugar levels. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either metformin, a placebo, or an intensive diet and exercise program. During the first year, the lifestyle intervention group lost the most weight, but over the long term (6 to 15 years), the metformin group had the highest proportion of people who maintained their weight loss. Experts believe that taking daily pills like metformin may be easier to continue over time compared to making dramatic dietary and exercise changes. Combining medication with lifestyle interventions might produce the best results for long-term weight maintenance. Future studies aim to investigate whether metformin can help maintain weight loss achieved through diet, weight loss drugs, or bariatric surgery. Maintaining a healthy weight is an ongoing and challenging process, and obesity must be managed continuously, just like high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.