Research
Energy balance
Lifestyle interventions combining diet and moderate-intensity physical activity (≥150 min/week) with a goal of modest weight loss (7%) are more effective than pharmacological intervention (metformin) in preventing or delaying type 2 diabetes in high-risk individuals (prediabetes).
If you have prediabetes, prioritize lifestyle changes over medication if possible. Aim for a 7% weight loss and 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. This approach was shown to be nearly twice as effective as metformin in preventing type 2 diabetes in the Diabetes Prevention Program.
StrongSupportsVERY_HIGH confidence
The lifestyle condition, on the other hand, reduced risk by 58% overall and nearly 70% in individuals aged ≥65 years. Thus, lifestyle was nearly twice as effective as the medication option.
Why this rating
Based on the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), a large, randomized controlled trial with 3,234 participants, considered a gold standard in prevention research.
Source
Scientific Statement: Socioecological Determinants of Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes
James O. Hill et al. · Diabetes Care · 2013
narrative_reviewCited 192×
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