Diet and exercise reduces diabetes risk
We talk about it all the time here at Picture of Health -- diet and exercise can help ward off a host of diseases. Bear with me if you're tired of hearing it, but it's true. A new study based on 10 years worth of data drives home the point when it comes to a disease that affects some 24 million people nationwide: diabetes.
People who stuck to a healthy diet and consistent exercise over a decade cut their risk of diabetes by 34 percent, according to new research sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and published in the latest issue of The Lancet. Diet and exercised lowered the diabetes risk even better than the diabetes drug metformin, which reduced the rate of developing the disease by 18 percent, according to the study.
About 11 percent of the nation's adult population has diabetes, the vast majority of them the type 2 variety, the kind that can be prevented. Being overweight, inactive and having a family history all contribute as risk factors. Another 57 million overweight have glucose levels higher than normal, but not yet in the diabetic range. Still, those levels keep them at high risk of developing diabetes down the road or having a heart attack or stroke.
The study followed a racially-diverse group of 3,234 overweight and obese adults, aged 25-85, with high blood glucose levels. Over a decade, some changed their lifestyles, eating lower fat, lower calorie diets and exercising up to 150 minutes per week. Another group took metformin and a third was the placebo group.
After 10 years, the group that ate better and exercised delayed diabetes by about four years, while the metformin group delayed it by two years, researchers found. Older people had the best results -- those 60 and older lowered their risk of diabetes over the decade by about half.
Comments
It is important for articles and other media outlets to continue to stress the importance of exercise and proper eating. Many individuals don't realize the dangers of diabetes until it's too late.
Posted by: Clinton Walker III | October 29, 2009 7:10 PM
Thanks for sharing. Great post. I'm absolutely agree with the result as I am always believe balanced diet and regular exercise will give you optimal health. 10 years data is a very convincing result. And I believe that group of people no longer obese after 10 years and not just reduces diabetes risk.
Posted by: Diet Solution | October 31, 2009 8:11 AM