Delaying diabetes for four years through diet and exercise can reduce the long-term risk of death for people with prediabetes, new research indicates. The study suggests these changes should be considered as a way to help prevent type 2 diabetes. The research indicates that making changes such as eating a healthy diet and getting more exercise, can delay or reduce the chances of developing diabetes in people diagnosed with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) – commonly called prediabetes.
But it has not been known how long a person must delay diabetes to ensure better health in the future. The researchers found that people who were able to stay non-diabetic for at least four years after their initial diagnosis had a significantly lower risk of dying (26%) and a significantly lower risk of having a heart attack, stroke or heart failure. This effect was not seen in people who remained non-diabetic for less than four years.
Overall, the findings suggest that the longer a prediabetic person can delay developing diabetes, the better their long-term health outcomes will be. But researchers say even just a few years of maintaining prediabetic status can yield benefits for years to come. Guangwei Li of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital in China , and colleagues, said: “This study suggests that a longer duration of non-diabetes status in those with IGT has beneficial health outcomes and reduces mortality.
“The implementation of effective interventions targeting those with IGT sho.
