Diet and exercise can delay progression to type 2 diabetes

Journal alert

Drug treatments and lifestyle interventions can halve the risk of type 2 diabetes in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance, a meta-analysis has found. Changes in diet and /or exercise were as least as effective as drug treatment.

A meta-analysis was carried out, by researchers from the University of Leicester, on 17 randomised, controlled trials involving more than 8,000 individuals with impaired glucose tolerance.

The numbers needed to treat for benefit were 6.4 for lifestyle intervention, 10.8 for oral diabetes drugs and 5.4 for orlistat.

Gillies CL, Abrams KR, Lambert PC et al. Pharmacological and lifestyle interventions to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes in people with impaired glucose tolerance: systematic review and meta-analysis BMJ 2007; doi:10.1136/bmj.39063.689375.55