Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes: Evidence and Strategies

Indian adults are thought to be more insulin resistant at a younger age and at a lower BMI than Caucasians. To assess whether the DPP findings can be replicated in an Indian population, the Indian Diabetes Prevention Program (IDPP) trial randomized a total of 531 participants with IGT to 4 groups: control, lifestyle modification, metformin, and lifestyle modifications with metformin [26]. The 3-year cumulative incidences of diabetes were 55.0%, 39.3%, 40.5%, and 39.5%, respectively, showing again a significant relative reduction in progression to diabetes of 28.5% with lifestyle changes, 26.4% with metformin, and 28.2% with both lifestyle changes and metformin, as compared with the control group.

In a Japanese unmasked, multicenter, randomized controlled trial published in 2011, 641 overweight adults with IFG were randomized to a frequent intervention group, receiving individual counseling and support for lifestyle modifications 9 times over 36 months, or a control group, receiving counseling 4 times over the same period. The 3-year cumulative incidence of T2DM was significantly lower in the frequent intervention group than in the control group (12.2% vs 16.6%) [27]. Interestingly, in a posthoc subgroup analysis, the protective effect was more prominent in patients with underlying associated IGT or elevated A1C, but was not observed in patients with isolated IFG, suggesting a possible prognostic value of an additional A1C or oral glucose tolerance test in individuals with IFG.

Diet

The diet followed in the major diabetes prevention trials discussed above has typically been a weight-reducing diet with decreased fat intake (eg, DPP, Finnish trial) and increased fiber intake (eg, Da Quing, DPP, Finnish trials). However, there has been more emphasis recently on the importance of the quality rather than the quantity of fats in preventing diabetes. For example, in a Spanish study, a non–calorie-restricted traditional Mediterranean diet, enriched with high-fat foods of vegetable origin (olive oil, nuts) decreased the incidence of diabetes by 52% in individuals at high cardiovascular risk after a median follow-up of 4.0 years, and in the absence of significant changes in body weight or physical activity among the groups [33]. These findings were reproduced by other studies. A recent meta-analysis examining the relation between intake of fruits and vegetables and the incidence of diabetes revealed that higher intake of fruit, especially berries, and green, leafy vegetables, yellow vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, or their fiber is associated with a lower risk of T2DM [34].

Exercise

Exercise is thought to improve insulin sensitivity and promote peripheral glucose uptake in normal individuals. Long-term moderate exercise, similar to the exercise recommended in DPP and FDPS, results in increased translocation of insulin-responsive glucose transporter (GLUT-4) from intracellular stores to the cell surface, facilitating glucose uptake [35]. A systematic review of 10 prospective cohort studies published in 2007 showed that, after adjustment for BMI, moderate-intensity physical activity was significantly associated with reduced diabetes incidence [36]. In the FDPS, participants who achieved at least 4 hours of exercise per week had a significant 80% decrease in incidence of diabetes, and this effect was observed even in the group that did not lose weight [23]. In the DQDPS, the greatest reduction in diabetes incidence was observed in the exercise group [22].