Endocrine Abstracts

The aim of our study is to assess the efficacy of a lifestyle modification including altered diet composition and physical activity in preventing diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM 2) in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glucose (IGT/IFG).

Materials and methods: The study included 327 patients (68 m 258 f) 25–65 years. Patients were divided into 2 groups matched by sex, age, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Research group included 183 patients (32 m, 150 f) who received and carried out individual recommendations of a balanced diet and physical activity. Control group included 144 patients (36 m 108 f) who did not lifestyle modification. The study was 48 weeks. We measured fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-hour plasma glucose concentrations (2-h PG) following a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test.

Results: Patients of the research group demonstrated reduction of body weight (−5.3 kg), BMI (−2.6 kg/m²) and WHR (−0.2) (P<0.01). They had positive dynamics of FPG and 2-h PG concentrations also (−0.4±0.6 and −0.9±0.7 mmol/l respectively (P<0.001). Persons of the control group had significant increase in weight, BMI and WHR and FPG and 2-h PG concentrations elevated (P<0.05). Among subjects with IGT at baseline, glucose levels normalized in 56% of patients from the research group and 4.5% in control group (P<0.001). By the end of the study 12% of non-diabetic subjects with obese of control group have developed DM 2, 28% subjects - IFG and 48% - IGT, while in the research group there were no changes in glucose concentrations among subjects with NGT (P<0.001). Among patients of the research group was a reduction of DM 2 by 34.9% and an increase in the control group by 17.4%.

Conclusion: Thereby, lifestyle modifications are effective in preventing or delaying type 2 diabetes development in individuals with high-risk factors.