A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials concluded that healthy lifestyle modifications (LSM, eating healthier diets and exercising) successfully reduced diabetes incidence and sustained for several years in adults at risk for diabetes. The analysis included 43 studies published between January 1, 1990, and January 1, 2015; 49 029 participants at risk for diabetes; mean (SD) age, 57.3 (8.7) years; 48.0% men. At the end of the active intervention (range, 0.5-6.3 years), LSM was associated with a pooled relative risks (RR) reduction of 39% (RR, 0.61), and medications were associated with an RR reduction of 36% (RR, 0.64). The observed pooled risk differences for LSM and medication studies was 4.0 cases per 100 person-years or a number-needed-to-treat of 25. At the end of the washout or follow-up periods, LSM studies (mean follow-up, 7.2 years; range, 5.7-9.4 years) achieved an RR reduction of 28% (RR, 0.72); medication studies (mean follow-up, 17 weeks; range, 2-52 weeks) showed no sustained RR reduction. The findings suggest LSM can prevent or delay diabetes onset whereas the effect of medications to prevent or prolong diabetes onset is short-lived. Source: https://jamanetwork.com/
