Reducing Diabetes Risk
WLR dietitian Juliette Kellow
discusses a new study which highlights that by changing our diets,
losing weight and taking more exercise we can reduce the risk of
type 2 diabetes.
Protect Yourself from Diabetes
By WLR Dietitian
This month, a new study published online by the British
Medical Journal reveals that making a few simple changes to your
lifestyle is at least as effective as taking prescribed medicine
to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Scientists from the University of Leicester trawled through 17
previously published trials to look at the effect different
treatment programmes had on impaired glucose tolerance, a risk
factor for type 2 diabetes. They found that interventions to help
reduce obesity (a major risk factor for diabetes) and increase
activity worked just as well as treating impaired glucose
tolerance with medication.
WLR says:
This review is encouraging and highlights just how
important it is to modify and change our lifestyles if we want to prevent
illness in later life. Better still, changing our diets, losing
weight and taking more exercise all come with fewer side effects
than prescribed medicines.
Being overweight or obese is one of the biggest risk factors
for diabetes. To reduce your risk, it’s essential to lose weight.
According to Diabetes UK, a BMI of just 26 increases your risk of
developing type 2 diabetes by 16, while a BMI of 33 means you are
a massive 77 times more likely to get diabetes than someone whose
weight is in the normal weight range.
For anyone who already has diabetes and needs to shift a few
pounds – or simply wants to lower their risk of getting diabetes –
you might want to take a look at The Diabetes Weight Loss Diet
(Kyle Cathie Ltd, £12.99) written by celebrity chef Antony Worrall
Thompson, registered dietitian Azmina Govindji and food writer
Jane Suthering. It’s packed with useful advice and plenty of
delicious recipes to try out.
More information
www.diabetes.org.uk
Diabetes UK is the largest organisation in the UK working for
people with diabetes, funding research, campaigning and helping
people live with the condition. |
