Angiotensin II receptor blocker telmisartan prevents new-onset diabetes in pre-diabetes OLETF rats on a high-fat diet: evidence of anti-diabetes action.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the effects of telmisartan, pioglitazone and metformin administration on the prevention of new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus in pre-diabetes Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats fed with a high-fat diet (HFD).

Methods: OLETF rats 22 weeks of age were treated with pioglitazone (O-P), metformin (O-M), telmisartan (O-T) and low telmisartan starting from their pre-diabetes period. The weight, glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity were measured.