Harvard and Joslin Diabetes Center physicians have been testing a way to try and ward off the development of type 2 diabetes. They've published a report in Diabetes Care, describing the 4-week administration of a weak non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), salsalate, to obese non-diabetic adults. The idea behind this was the mild chronic inflammation often seen in diabetics. An anti-inflammatory drug might reduce the inflammation and prevent the development of full-blown type 2 diabetes.

Twenty obese non-diabetic adults were given 4 grams of salsalate - a close relative of salicylate - or a placebo, daily for one month, in double-blind fashion. Compared with the placebo, salsalate reduced fasting glucose by 13%, the response to a glucose load by 20%, and the HbA1c by 17%. The serum C-reactive peptide (CRP, a marker of inflammation) fell on average by 34%. These results were as good as those seen with a new anti-diabetic agent.

The anti-diabetic effect of salicylates has been known for some time. However, their potential to cause gastro-intestinal ulceration and bleeding limits their use for this purpose. Salsalate has a lower risk of causing bleeding, according to the authors of this study. However, the drug information warns of side effect similar to those of other NSAIDs. Further studies - longer, larger, and in different populations - will clarify the actual usefulness of this drug. We can only hope they work out favorably.