Hello,
Thank you for your query at DoctorSpring.com
You are right that Metformin with Diet and Exercise is as good as Exercise alone. However, thats in Trial settings over a short term.
As you have already tried that and have family risk of DM and rising HbA1c, You will do well with stricter diet restriction and exercise with targetted weight loss to BMI around 20 and then if still the HbA1c continues to be above 5.7, then Metformin may be a good option to prevent further progression.
Feel free to discuss further,
Regards.