BACKGROUND: The transition from normal glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity to overt type 2 diabetes (T2D) encompasses a variety of glycemic abnormalities that are commonly referred to as 'prediabetes'. In 2003, 314 million people (8.2% of the adult population) had prediabetes, and this number is projected to increase to 472 million (9.0% of the adult population) by 2025. Approximately 40-50% of individuals with prediabetes have been reported to develop T2D within 10 years.