Healthy lifestyle works in diabetes

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Lifestyle changes are as effective as medication in treating type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is an increasing problem. It has been diagnosed in 1.3 million people in England and a new review compares approaches for treating glucose intolerance, a condition which can often lead to diabetes. These approaches focused upon lifestyle changes, such as switching to a healthier diet and taking more exercise, diabetes drugs and anti-obesity drugs. It looks as if the healthy lifestyle is at least as effective as medication in preventing diabetes in those at risk. On average, a healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by about a half.

Lifestyle changes do not have adverse side effects either, while both diabetes and obesity drugs may do. However, it is important the healthy lifestyle be sustained long-term to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes. This requires commitment! But with rates of diabetes predicted to double by 2030, if a healthy lifestyle can ward off even some of these cases, then the message is an important one for public health.

Source
BMJ Online First 18th January 2007

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