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.

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

However, the scientists say that both changes in lifestyle 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 changes in lifestyle are to be truly effective more needs to be done to support people to adopt healthier lifestyles.


Posted by: Josly2006    Source

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