“Prediabetes – a new age of understanding and management” was the title of our successful Bayer Symposium, held in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 13 September 2006, on the occasion of the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). More than 150 physicians from Europe, North America and Asia attended our symposium, which took place in the striking Tycho Brahe Planetarium. Welcoming the attendees, the international renowned Chairman Professor Jaakko Tuomilehto (Finland), praised the experience of the faculty, and looked forward to presentations discussing what he called the “rocket science” of early management of postprandial hyperglycaemia.

Professor Balkau (France) described the risks of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) associated with prediabetes, and said that there was a strong case for early intervention to reduce or remove these risks. Professor Tuomilehto then described the rationale for the use of simple risk-prediction tools to identify those individuals most at risk, who would benefit most from treatment.

Professor Alberti (UK) and Professor Karasik (Israel) considered the treatment options available for individuals with prediabetes. Professor Alberti emphasised that lifestyle modification should be the first-line choice for treatment, although he noted that more information is needed about the effectiveness of such intervention in real-world settings. Professor Karasik described the current evidence for the use of pharmacotherapy in prediabetes, concluding that it is an important option to consider, and that current guidelines do not fully reflect the available evidence.

The proven evidence for the use of Glucobay in prediabetes was presented by Professor Wascher (Austria). He described the benefits of Glucobay in prediabetes and the further disease continuum, including the significant reductions in the risks of developing diabetes and CVD shown in the STOP-NIDDM trial. Glucobay is approved in 27 countries for the management of prediabetes – the only oral anti-diabetes agent licensed for this condition. Consequently Glucobay is the perfect partner for a successful prediabetes management! Finally, Professor Fowkes (UK) discussed further options for cardiovascular risk management in patients with diabetes, concluding that as high-risk patients, most diabetics should be routinely prescribed an antiplatelet agent such as aspirin.

Beside the satellite symposium, Bayer Healthcare was present with an attractive exhibition booth which linked the two important diabetes areas Pharmaceuticals and Diabetes Care. Under the umbrella slogan “Connecting Innovative Strategies in Diabetes Management” the latest scientific information about Pharma’s anti-diabetic agent Glucobay and Diabetes Care’s blood sugar self control devices Ascensia were presented to the interested EASD visitors.