Lifestyle Style Chnage Reduces Diabetes Incidence

The findings from the randomized Healthy Living Partnerships to Prevent Diabetes (HELP PD) study, were published online March 18 in 2 papers in a special diabetes-prevention supplement to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The study produced significant reductions in blood glucose and body mass index (BMI) among individuals with prediabetes, while also reducing costs at 2 years.

HELP PD is a randomized trial that attempted to translate the findings of the landmark Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) to a less costly model, using an existing community health system. The intervention was aimed at reducing caloric intake and increasing moderate-intensity aerobic activity to produce a 0.3-kg/week weight loss over the first 6 months for a total 5% to 7% reduction in body weight, after which the focus was on maintenance of weight loss. Group sessions were conducted weekly for the first 6 months and less frequently thereafter. Subjects also met with the dietician for 3 consultations. Of 301 overweight or obese patients with prediabetes (mean age, 58 years) randomly assigned to the lifestyle intervention or enhanced usual care, 261 completed 2 years of the study. At 2 years, the lifestyle-intervention group experienced significantly greater reductions compared with controls in weight (-4.19 kg), BMI (-1.4), waist circumference (-3.23 cm), fasting glucose (-4.35 mg/dL), and weight-loss percentage (-4.59%) (P < .001 for all). They also had greater decreases in insulin resistance (P = .006).

The study results suggests the HELP PD model can help reach people who prefer more community or neighborhood oriented healthy lifestyles intervention and save helath care costs. .  

Source:  Miriam E. Tucker, Mar 21, 2013, Medscape