Delay diabetes by 14 years by following 'diet and exercise programme'

16 May, 2012

This diet and exercise programme, if followed would help people with high risk of diabetes to keep the deadly disease at bay - at least for some years.

PEOPLE WITH high risk of diabetes have something to cheer about – they can delay the onset of fatal disease by 14 years by foloowing a defined diet and exercise programme for six years, according to a study Published in 'The Lancet'.

In the study called China DA Quing Diabetes Prevention Outcome Study, 577 adults with high blood sugar levels at risk of diabetes from 33 clinics in China were randomly assigned to any of the three lifestyle interventions. One group on diet, second on exercise, and the third on combination. They were compared with the control group without any diet or exercise programme.

The interventions included reducing the amount of food, sugar and alcohol and putting more vegetables and increasing the level of physical activities.

Lifestyle interventions reduced the incidence of diabetes by 51% over the six years of the programme and over the whole 20 year period, the incidence of diabetes was reduced by 43% in those people who have been on diet and exercise programme.