Lifestyle Changes May Delay Onset of Diabetes for Years, Study Indicates

Note from Connie: Yet another study comes to conclusions that demonstrate how important it it to quit eating junk and to start exercising. Jennifer brings you the details.

Research just published in The Lancet indicates that lifestyle changes -- exercise and improved diet -- may delay the onset of diabetes for several years.

From 1986 until 1992, 577 Chinese adults with impaired glucose tolerance were assigned to either change their diet, get more exercise, make both dietary and exercise changes, or to a control group in which they didn't follow any diet or exercise program.

Researchers then assessed all the study subjects in 2006. What did they find?

"Group-based lifestyle interventions over 6 years can prevent or delay diabetes for up to 14 years after the active intervention," the study's authors wrote.

Now, unfortunately, 80% of the people in the lifestyle change group were diabetic by 2006 (though an even more whopping 93% of people in the control group suffered the same fate).

Still, it's great that eating better and exercising can give people more years of good health. Steven Reinberg at Health Day and Michael Kahn of Reuters both covered this positive news.

Jennifer Moore for SUGAR SHOCK! Blog