Preventing Diabetes in Patients With Impaired Glucose Tolerance

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Randomised controlled trial evaluating lifestyle interventions in people with impaired glucose tolerance, by J.C. Oldroyd and colleagues. Diab Res Clin Pract 72:117–127, 2006.

What is the problem and what is known about it so far?

Making drastic healthy lifestyle changes by following a specific program can reduce health problems linked to diabetes. However, such changes can be expensive and may require help from health professionals.

Little is known about how a program to change lifestyle habits can help people who do not yet have diabetes, but do have impaired glucose tolerance, or IGT. People with IGT do not handle insulin or glucose properly. It is thought that a serious program to help people follow healthy lifestyle habits might prevent some people with IGT from getting full-blown diabetes.

Why did the researchers do this particular study?

The researchers wanted to see if a healthy lifestyle program can help people who have IGT.

Who was studied?

The study included 78 men and women with IGT who were between 24 and 75 years of age.

How was the study done?

All participants had a physical exam and blood drawn for lab tests. Researchers measured the height and weight of each participant to calculate body mass index (BMI, a measure of weight compared to height).

Half of the participants were enrolled in a program that encouraged healthy lifestyle habits, while the other half was told to follow their usual habits.

People in the healthy lifestyle group saw a dietitian who helped them plan regular meals that included more fruits and vegetables, and reduced the fat and sugar content of foods. They also met with a physical therapist who helped them develop an exercise plan aimed at helping them do 20-30 minutes of physical activity at least once a week.

These participants met with the dietitian and physical therapist regularly during a two-year period that followed the study.

What did the researchers find?

After the two-year follow-up period, researchers found that those who received counseling on healthy habits consumed much less fat in their diet, lost more body weight, and improved their ability to handle insulin and glucose.

What were the limitations of the study?

The counseling may not have been intensive enough to improve the participants' health over the long term.

Fourteen people dropped out of the study, which could have changed the results.

What are the implications of the study?

A reasonable program to help people with IGT to make healthy lifestyle changes can improve their ability to handle insulin and glucose and prevent them from getting diabetes.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

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