How can prediabetes be prevented?
The best way to prevent both prediabetes and diabetes is to stay as close as possible to your ideal weight through a combination of a healthy diet and physical activity. Increasing physical activity not only helps keep the weight down but also lowers blood glucose.
Results of a large U.S. nationwide study released in August 2001, the Diabetes Prevention Program study, showed that participants at risk for developing type 2 diabetes were able to reduce the risk of developing diabetes over a three-year period by 58 percent through sustained modest weight loss and moderate-intensity physical activity, such as walking 30 minutes a day. The lifestyle intervention measures of the program had these goals:
- help each patient achieve and maintain a weight loss of 7 percent with healthy eating and increased physical activity
- help each patient get at least 150 minutes a week of moderate physical activity, such as walking or biking.
Participants were asked to lower fat intake to less than 25 percent of calories. If reducing fat did not result in weight loss, a calorie goal was added. Participants received training in diet, exercise, self-monitoring, goal-setting, and problem-solving. Interestingly, certain groups of DPP participants benefited more from the lifestyle intervention than other groups. For example, the lifestyle intervention worked particularly well in people ages 60 and older, reducing their development of diabetes by 71 percent.
