Researchers will be actively looking for side effects from the chosen medication, according to Ratner, in order to minimize their effects on the patients.

Jane Doe is in one of the pill-taking groups. Although she says that she would never do any "drug testing," she has no problems with the medication she is given at Medlantic.

"I checked the medication with my doctor," she said, "and as it happened, metformin is being taken by my aunt."

In fact, everything checked out by Jane Doe - who did master's work in Public Health Policy at Harvard - met with her satisfaction.

"This study is put together very well," she says. "The staff is very professional and courteous."

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

RELATED ARTICLE: Diabetes Prevention Program Participating Medical Centers

Albert Einstein College of Medicine
  (The Bronx, N.Y.,)                                   718-405-8274
Howard University, in collaboration with the
  Medlantic Clinical Research Center
  (Washington, D.C.)                                   202-675-2082
Indiana University School of Medicine
  (Indianapolis)                                       317-278-0854
Johns Jopkins University Pro Health
  (Baltimore, Md.)                                     410-281-2990
Joslin Diabetes Center (Boston)                        617-735-1907
Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston)                317-724-3197
Northern Navajo Medical Center (Shiprock, N.M.)        505-368-3055
Northwestern University Medical (Chicago)              312-902-9500
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
  (Baton rouge, La.)                                   504-763-2596
Pueblo of Zuni (Zuni, N.M.)                            505-782-4555
St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital (New York City)          212-523-8989
The Southwest American Indian Center for Diabetes
   Prevention (Phoenix, Arix.)                         602-200-5338
Thomas Jefferson University Jefferson Medical          215-955-0444
  College Philadelphia)
University of California-San Diego                     619-642-0225
University of Chicago Hospitals                        773-702-9655
University of Colorado (Denver)                        303-315-7854
University of Hawaii (Honolulu)                        808-537-7155
University of Miami School of Medicine                 305-243-3411
University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center
  (Albuquerque)                                        505-272-8269
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center                412-383-2194
University of Southern California (Los Angeles)        213-226-7959
University of Tennessee-Memphis                        901-448-8400
University of Texas Health Science Center
  (San Antonio)                                        210-567-4799
University of Washington (Seattle)                     206-764-2768
Washington University School of Medicine
  (St. Louis, No.)                                   1-800-434-7465