New super pill could make diabetes history

London: A new drug could help prevent people from becoming diabetic.

This could prevent obese patients and others at risk of Type 2 -diabetes from ever getting the disease.

Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center said that a drug that inhibits the enzyme, MK2, eventually could be added to metformin-the current first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes- to achieve better control over insulin and glucose levels than is possible with either drug alone.

This would effectively have double the potency of either drug to control insulin and glucose levels if taken on their own.

The experts believe the combined drug would be especially useful in treating seriously over-weight patients as it prevents insulin cells "burning out" as they try to cope with obesity.

The drug may also stop those who are in the early stages of the illness - a condition known as "pre-diabetes" - from getting it, according to the research.

The findings are published in the journal Cell Metabolism.