Patient Education
Diabetes is one of the central health problems of our time. It is a burdensome and costly chronic disease that can lead to serious complications such as coronary heart disease, peripheral vascular disease and the damage or failure of eyes, kidneys and nerves. It is associated with excess morbidity and mortality, and it is increasing in epidemic proportions throughout the world.
The two major abnormalities leading to glucose intolerance are defects of action and/or secretion of insulin. People who are overweight and older than 45 years are more likely to get diabetes than leaner, younger people. Another important risk factor is a family history of diabetes. Although possibilities of treatment have strongly improved, the normalization of the blood glucose level is seldom achieved in diabetes patients for any appreciable period of time. Therefore early diagnosis and prevention are vital when it comes to fighting the illness.
Before people develop diabetes, they almost always have “pre-diabetes“. This means that their blood glucose level is higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Recent research has shown that even during this early stage some long-term damage to the body can occur, especially to the heart and circulatory system. But research has also shown that the development of diabetes can be delayed or even prevented. The strategies that have been found to be most effective, relied on lifestyle modification or glucose-lowering drugs. Here, lifestyle modification turned out to be nearly twice as effective in preventing the illness as medication.
The two major abnormalities leading to glucose intolerance are defects of action and/or secretion of insulin. People who are overweight and older than 45 years are more likely to get diabetes than leaner, younger people. Another important risk factor is a family history of diabetes. Although possibilities of treatment have strongly improved, the normalization of the blood glucose level is seldom achieved in diabetes patients for any appreciable period of time. Therefore early diagnosis and prevention are vital when it comes to fighting the illness.
Before people develop diabetes, they almost always have “pre-diabetes“. This means that their blood glucose level is higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Recent research has shown that even during this early stage some long-term damage to the body can occur, especially to the heart and circulatory system. But research has also shown that the development of diabetes can be delayed or even prevented. The strategies that have been found to be most effective, relied on lifestyle modification or glucose-lowering drugs. Here, lifestyle modification turned out to be nearly twice as effective in preventing the illness as medication.
Modest weight loss and physical activity
The recommended goals included modest weight loss (5-10% of body weight) and modest physical activity (30 min daily). These comparatively modest requirements were sufficient to achieve important reduction in the incidence of diabetes. Recent studies suggest that such simple measures can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes for about 3 years.
However, substantial efforts were necessary to achieve even modest changes in weight and exercise as patients had to be intensively trained and instructed. Even so, only about half of them achieved the weight reduction goal, and only 36-74% (depending on the study) increased their physical activity. This may suggest how difficult it is to implement the necessary changes in the patients’ everyday context and to keep them up over a longer period of time.
There is strong epidemiologic evidence that physical activity and weight loss are of medical benefit, not just for preventing diabetes but also for improving cardiovascular health and the general quality of life. The greater benefit of weight loss and physical activity strongly suggests that lifestyle modification should be the first choice to prevent or delay diabetes.
American Diabetes Association
Nutrition & Recipes
Making Healthy Food Choices
American Dietetic Association
Nutrition Fact Sheets
National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases
Treatments for Diabetes
International Diabetes Federation
About Diabetes
The Treatment
European Association for the Study of Diabetes
