Study Finds That Moderate Changes in Diet and Exercise Can Cut the Risk of Getting Type 2 Diabetes In Half

(Bethesda, Maryland) August 8, 2001 -- The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases today released the findings of a major clinical trial that suggests that at least 10 million Americans at high risk for Type 2 Diabetes can sharply lower their chances of getting the disease with diet and exercise.

Changing eating habits and incorporating a 30 minute daily walk can have significant benefits in delaying the onset of Type 2 Diabetes. "In view of the rapidly rising rates of obesity and diabetes in America, this good news couldn't come at a better time", said Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson. "By promoting healthy lifestyles, we can improve the quality of life for all Americans".

The clinical trial, known as the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), compared diet and exercise to treatment with the drug metformin in 3,234 people with impaired glucose tolerance, a condition that often precedes diabetes. On the advice of the DPP's external data monitoring board, the 3-year trial ended a year early because the data had clearly answered the main research questions.

Participants randomly assigned to intensive lifestyle intervention reduced their risk of getting type 2 diabetes by 58 percent, or more than half. On average, this group maintained their physical activity at 30 minutes per day, usually with walking or other moderate intensity exercise, and lost 5-7 percent of their body weight.

The DPP was conducted at 27 centers nationwide, and is the first major trial to show that diet and exercise can effectively delay diabetes in a diverse American population of overweight people with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). IGT is a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not yet diabetic. According to DDP study chair Dr. David Nathan, "Lifestyle intervention worked as well in men and women and in all the ethnic groups. It also worked well in people age 50 and older -- who have a nearly 20 percent prevalence of diabetes-reducing the development of diabetes by 71 percent."

Those individuals who were part of the lifestyle arm of the study were given the goals of reducing weight by 7 percent through a low-fat diet plus exercising 150 minutes per week. The greatest benefits occurred among test subjects who were physically active (most chose walking) for about 30 minutes a day, five days per week, and who also lost between 5% to 7% of their body weight (an average of 15 pounds). Diet changes involved cutting back on caloric and fat intake, particularly a target of 25% of calories from fat (versus the 30% to 35% in the average American diet).

It is important to note that the diet/exercise participants reduced their risk of getting Type 2 Diabetes by a greater amount (58%) than those participants taking the oral diabetes drug metformin (Glucophage), who reduced risk by 31%.

These findings suggest that a moderate lifestyle change can have dramatic effects. Visit the NIDDK site for more information (see the link on our Information Resources page under "Organizations").

D-Care® can help you achieve healthy diet goals. Visit the Diabesity and Multivitamin sections of our site to find the kind of nutritional support that can help you jump-start your way to better living!

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