Can type 2 diabetes be prevented through diet and exercise?

Abstract

Diets that result in long-term weight loss of 5% to 7%, along with moderate-intensity exercise for more than 150 minutes per week, reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes for patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) (strength of recommendation [SOR]: A, based on multiple randomized controlled trials [RCTs]). Each of the trials demonstrating this finding included fairly intensive counseling as part of the successful intervention. Diet and exercise reduce the incidence of diabetes in both lean (body mass index [BMI] <25) and overweight patients with IGT (SOR: B, based on a single, large RCT).