New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Lifestyle Changes Effective In Protecting Against Type II Diabetes

Date:
January 21, 2007
Source:
BMJ-British Medical Journal
Summary:
Changing to a healthier lifestyle appears to be at least as effective as taking prescription drugs in reducing the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, says a new British Medical Journal study. Type 2 diabetes is a growing problem -- in England around 1.3 million people have diabetes and around five percent of total NHS resources are used for the care of people with diabetes.
Share:
FULL STORY

Changing to a healthier lifestyle appears to be at least as effective as taking prescription drugs in reducing the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, says a new British Medical Journal study.

Type 2 diabetes is a growing problem -- in England around 1.3 million people have diabetes and around 5% of total NHS resources are used for the care of people with diabetes.

Researchers from Leicester reviewed studies which measured the effects of different interventions -- lifestyle, diabetes drug and anti-obesity drug -- on people with impaired glucose tolerance. (People with impaired glucose tolerance have a high risk of developing type II diabetes.)

They found that lifestyle changes, e.g. switching to a healthier diet and increasing exercise to be at least as effective as taking prescription drugs. On average, lifestyle changes helped to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by around half. Lifestyle changes were also less likely to have adverse side-effects.

However, the researchers say that both lifestyle changes and prescription drug taking must be sustained in order to prevent the development of Type 2 diabetes.

The authors say that as global rates of Type 2 diabetes are likely to double by 2030, interventions to prevent the condition will have an important role to play in future health policies. The study findings have large implications for public health policy, however, the authors note that if lifestyle changes are to be truly effective more needs to be done to support people to adopt healthier lifestyles.


Story Source:

Materials provided by BMJ-British Medical Journal. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Cite This Page:

BMJ-British Medical Journal. "Lifestyle Changes Effective In Protecting Against Type II Diabetes." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 21 January 2007. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070119103835.htm>.
BMJ-British Medical Journal. (2007, January 21). Lifestyle Changes Effective In Protecting Against Type II Diabetes. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 29, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070119103835.htm
BMJ-British Medical Journal. "Lifestyle Changes Effective In Protecting Against Type II Diabetes." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070119103835.htm (accessed March 29, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES