The Role of Diet and Lifestyle in Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Diabetes Prevention: A Review of Meta-Analyses

Abstract

Prevention of diabetes is crucial to lowering disease incidence, and thus minimizing the individual, familial, and public health burden. The purpose of this review is to gather current information from meta-analyses on dietary and lifestyle practices concerning reduction of risk to develop type 2 diabetes. Low glycemic index dietary patterns reduce both fasting blood glucose and glycated proteins independent of carbohydrate consumption. Diets rich in whole-grain, cereal high fiber products, and non-oil-seed pulses are beneficial. Whereas, frequent meat consumption has been shown to increase risk. Regarding non-alcoholic beverages, 4 cups/day of filtered coffee or tea are associated with a reduced diabetes risk. In contrast, the consumption of alcoholic beverages should not exceed 1-3 drinks/day. Intake of vitamin E, carotenoids, and magnesium can be increased to counteract diabetes risk. Obesity is the most important factor accounting for more than half of new diabetes' cases; even modest weight loss has a favorable effect in preventing the appearance of diabetes. Also, physical exercise with or without diet contributes to a healthier lifestyle, and is important for lowering risk. Finally, there is a positive association between smoking and risk to develop type 2 diabetes. As far as secondary and tertiary prevention is concerned, for persons already diagnosed with diabetes, there is limited evidence of the effectiveness of diet or lifestyle modification on glycemic control, but further studies are necessary.

Association between dietary meat consumption and incident type 2 diabetes: the EPIC-InterAct study

“…The important role of overweight and obesity in the onset of new cases of type 2 diabetes was discussed in a recent meta-analysis [28], while obesity has been cited as an important factor accounting for more than half of new diabetes cases [20]. This is also evident from our analyses, as BMI was the covariate that induced the largest attenuation of risk estimates for type 2 diabetes.…”

“…In the basic model the baseline hazard function was stratified by centre and adjusted for sex and energy intake (natural log kJ). In multivariate model 1, analyses were performed stratified by centre and adjusted for sex, energy intake, smoking status (dummy variables for former and current smokers; never smokers as reference), alcohol (quintiles of daily intake), physical activity (four levels) and educational level (five levels) based on a priori knowledge of the main risk factors for type 2 diabetes [3,[20][21][22]. In multivariate model 2, a term for BMI (continuous) was added.…”

A review of diabetes prevention program translations: use of cultural adaptation and implementation research

“…In 2007, the cost associated with diabetes was $174 billion [1]. Diabetes and its complications are largely preventable [2,3]; obesity, physical inactivity, and unhealthy eating account for over half of new cases [4,5].…”

“…In 2007, the cost associated with diabetes was $174 billion [1]. Diabetes and its complications are largely preventable [2,3]; obesity, physical inactivity, and unhealthy eating account for over half of new cases [4,5].Racial/ethnic minorities are at substantially higher risk for type 2 diabetes and continue to experience greater rates of hospitalization due to diabetes-related complications and 50-100 % higher morbidity and mortality than their white counterparts [6][7][8]. To address such health disparities effectively, interventions need to attend to cultural factors to increase engagement of ethnic minority populations in prevention…”

Identification of a Major Genetic Determinant of Glycaemic Index in Rice

“…Lower GI foods and diets provoke only transient, moderate postprandial glycaemia and improve insulin sensitivity along with other endpoints of cardio-metabolic health in obese and overweight subjects as well as those with type II diabetes (Brand-Miller et al 2003;Dickinson and Brand-Miller 2005;Livesey et al 2008;Marsh and Brand-Miller 2008;Opperman et al 2004;Wolever and Mehling 2002). Furthermore, low GI diets improve metabolic health indices independent of the amount of carbohydrate consumed (Psaltopoulou et al 2010). Accordingly, lowering the GI of the diet could help in preventing the development and slowing the progression of type II diabetes and thereby lead to an improvement in public health.…”