Healthy Lifestyle Outperforms Anti-Diabetes Drug in Preventing Diabetes, Study Shows
Long-term efficacy of lifestyle modifications over pharmacological intervention
A landmark study reveals that adopting a healthy lifestyle, including exercise and a balanced diet, is more effective than the anti-diabetes drug metformin in preventing type 2 diabetes, with benefits lasting over two decades. Conducted as part of the US Diabetes Prevention Program launched in 1996, the research involved 3,234 prediabetes patients across 30 institutions in 22 US states.
Published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, the study by researchers from The University of New Mexico found that lifestyle changes reduced diabetes onset by 24%, compared to a 17% reduction with metformin. Within the first three years, lifestyle interventions led to a 58% lower incidence of type 2 diabetes, while metformin achieved a 31% reduction.
“Lifestyle changes proved superior early on, prompting the study to conclude after three years,” said Vallabh Raj Shah, professor emeritus at The University of New Mexico’s School of Medicine. “Those who avoided diabetes through lifestyle changes remained diabetes-free even after 22 years.”
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Participants in the lifestyle group, focusing on weight loss and physical activity, gained an additional 3.5 diabetes-free years, compared to 2.5 years for the metformin group. The findings highlight the long-term efficacy of lifestyle modifications over pharmacological intervention, offering a sustainable approach to diabetes prevention.
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