Diet, exercise promotion programs can fight diabetes, claim scientists

Preventing type 2 diabetes is now easy as evidence show that combining diet and exercise promotion programs are effective for preventing patients at risk.

The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommended the use of combined diet and physical activity promotion programs to provide counsel and support to patients at increased risk for type 2 diabetes.

A systematic review of 53 studies describing 66 programs found strong evidence that such programs were effective for reducing new onset diabetes.

Combined promotion programs encourage people facing an increased risk for diabetes to improve their diet and increase their physical activity.

Researchers suggested that the interventions included trained providers in a clinical or community setting who work directly with patients for at least three months; some combination of counseling, coaching, or extended support and multiple sessions related to diet and physical activity, delivered in person or by some other method.

The study is published in the Journal Annals of Internal Medicine.