Over-the-counter medication could cut risk of developing diabetes by 15 percent

Diabetes has more than 4.3 million people in the UK in its grip and shows no signs of slowing down. According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), more than five million people are predicted to be diagnosed with the chronic condition by 2025. Your risk of developing diabetes increases with your age, making those over 40 more prevalent to the blood sugar condition, according to Diabetes UK . But  new research suggests that popular over-the-counter medication could cut the risk of the chronic condition in older adults. The research team, led by Professor Sophia Zoungas, found the use of low-dose aspirin among those aged 65 years and older could cut the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 15 percent. Over-the-counter medication could cut risk of developing diabetes by 15%. (Image: GETTY) The study looked at the effect of 100mg aspirin on incident diabetes and fasting blood sugar levels.  Drawing on a previous study from 2018, the researchers enrolled community-dwelling individuals aged 65 years or over, and free of cardiovascular disease , independence-limiting physical disability and dementia . These study subjects were then given either a low-dose daily aspirin or a placebo.  Incident diabetes was defined as either self-report of diabetes, the commencement of glucose-lowering medication, and fasting blood sugar levels above 7.0 mmol/L or higher at annual follow-up visits.  Professor Zoungas added that even a low-dose of aspirin doesn’t come without its risks. (Image: GETTY) The study saw a total of 16,209 participants taking part in the analysis, with 8,086 randomised to aspirin and 8,123 to placebo.  During the follow-up of 4.7 years, there were 995 incident diabetes cases recorded. Around 459 in the aspirin group and 536 in the placebo group. Compared to the placebo, the participants on aspirin had a 15 percent reduction in incident diabetes and a slower rate of increase in fasting blood sugar levels . While the findings look promising, more research is currently needed. The authors said: ‘Given the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes among older adults, the potential for anti-inflammatory agents like aspirin to prevent type 2 diabetes or improve glucose levels needs further study.’ Diabetes symptoms include increased need to urinate. (Image: Express.co.uk) Furthermore, Professor Zoungas added that even a low-dose of aspirin doesn’t come without its risks. The researcher added: ‘The earlier published trial findings from ASPREE in 2018 showed aspirin did not prolong healthy independent living, but was associated with a significantly increased risk of bleeding, primarily in the gastrointestinal tract.  ‘Major prescribing guidelines now recommend older adults take daily aspirin only when there is a medical reason to do so, such as after a heart attack . ‘Although these new findings are of interest, they do not change the clinical advice about aspirin use in older people at this time.’  The study is to be presented at this year’s Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Hamburg, Germany (2-6 October).