DOC News March 1, 2006
Volume 3 Number 3 p. 19
© 2006 American Diabetes Association
Relatives Benefit From Their Own Lifestyle Changes
Diet and healthful lifestyle changes can produce long-term beneficial
effects in individuals closely related to people with diabetes, who have an
increased risk of developing the disease.
Researchers studied the effect of dietary and lifestyle changes on 77
people, 25–55 years of age, who are first-degree relatives of people
with diabetes. All the participants were healthy, without diabetes or glucose
intolerance.
Participants were placed into three groups. One group was put on a diet
aimed at reducing saturated fats, increasing monounsaturated fats from fish
and vegetables, and increasing consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. The
diet also encouraged eating low–glycemic-index foods—which release
glucose into the bloodstream slowly—and discouraged eating
high–glycemic-index foods.
A second group was put on the diet and also encouraged to increase physical
activity to a level of at least 30 minutes a day 4 or 5 days per week.
Members of the control group were told to keep to their usual diet and
physical activity routines. At the end of 1 year, some of these participants
were put on the same diet as the first group. All of the participants were
followed for 2 years.
Analysis of data showed that dietary changes resulted in healthful benefits
maintained for the entire 2-year study period. Participants in the second
group also benefited from increased physical activity and lost an average 2.5%
of their body weight. The improvements were greater among people who adopted
diet and physical activity changes, compared with those who only followed the
diet.
Brekke HK, Jansson P, Lenner RA: Long-term (1- and 2-year)
effects of lifestyle intervention in type 2 diabetes relatives.
Diabetes Res Clin Pract 70:225–234, 2005[Medline].
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