Lifestyle counseling rejected by many at diabetes risk
Many people at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes do not perceive the need for lifestyle counseling, according to a study published in the January 2012 issue of Diabetes Care.
Researchers in Finland found that 64 percent of men and 48 percent of women with risk factors for type 2 diabetes did not believe they needed to attend formal intervention sessions to change their lifestyle to delay or prevent the disease.
Those participants who agreed to attend supervised lifestyle counseling were more likely to report a perceived need for intervention. This perception was associated with actual attendance among women only.
Despite recognizing the need to change, 35 percent refused to participate in lifestyle intervention.
“It will be vital to find additional means to support lifestyle change,” the authors said in the article.
Data for this study came more than 10,000 participants in the Finnish National Diabetes Prevention Project.
Risk factors
Risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes include advanced age of 45 years or older, family history of diabetes, overweight or obesity, physical inactivity, higher than normal blood glucose levels, blood pressure of 140/90 or higher, HDL cholesterol level less than 35 and triglyceride level higher than 250.
Women are at higher risk if they have a history of gestational diabetes or gave birth to a baby weighing nine pounds or more. Polycystic ovary syndrome can also increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Ethnic minorities are also at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes, in particular African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Diabetes is preventable
Diabetes is preventable, according to the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP). Studies show that overweight people at high risk for diabetes can prevent or delay disease onset by losing five to seven percent of their weight.
The NDEP promotes two ways to lose weight. One is getting 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity five days a week. The other is eating a variety of foods that are low in fat and reducing the number of calories you eat every day.
An estimated 79 million Americans over aged 20 years have pre-diabetes. Blood glucose levels are higher than normal in pre-diabetes, but not high enough to qualify as diabetes.
People with pre-diabetes are more likely to develop diabetes within 10 years than people without pre-diabetes. They are also more likely to have a heart attack or stroke.
Sources: Diabetes Care, National Diabetes Education Program
More Articles
With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.
Farro...
Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....
With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...
If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...
In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.
When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...
More Articles
If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....
For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.
A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...
According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...
Eleven Clinical Studies
After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...
Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...
Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...
Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...
Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...
Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....
When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...
Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.
The...
Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...
Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...
Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...
One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...