Diabetes Is a Family Matter

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Long-term (1- and 2-year) effects of lifestyle intervention in type 2 diabetes relatives, by H.K. Brekke and colleagues. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 70:225–234, 2005.

What is the problem and what is known about it so far?

Following a healthy diet and exercising are important factors for staying healthy and warding off type 2 diabetes. What's more, improving one's diet and adopting other healthy lifestyle habits can improve a person's control over their diabetes.

It's also known that first-degree relatives (parents, children, or siblings) of people with diabetes are more likely to get the disease themselves. However, it isn't known if -- or how much -- a healthy lifestyle benefits first-degree relatives of people with diabetes.

Why did the researchers do this particular study?

The researchers wanted to study the long-term effects of diet and exercise in individuals closely related to people with diabetes.

Who was studied?

The study included 77 people, between 25 and 55 years old, who are first-degree relatives of people with diabetes. All the participants were healthy and didn't have diabetes or other problems related to how the body handles glucose in the blood.

How was the study done?

Participants were put into one of three groups. One group was put on a diet aimed at reducing saturated fats, increasing monounsaturated fats from fish and vegetables, and increasing consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. The diet also encouraged participants to eat foods that slowly release glucose into the blood (foods with a low glycemic index) and discouraged participants from eating foods that rapidly release glucose into the blood (foods with a high glycemic index), which is believed to reduce the chance of getting diabetes.

A second group's participants were put on the same diet and were also encouraged to increase their physical activity to at least 30 minutes a day four or five days per week.

The third group, for comparison, was told to keep to their usual eating habits and level of physical activity. At the end of one year, some of these participants were put on the same diet as the first group.

All of the participants were followed for two years.

What did the researchers find?

The dietary changes showed healthful benefits that remained for the entire two-year study period. Participants in the second group also benefited from getting more exercise, and lost an average of 2.5% of their body weight. The improvements were greater among people who changed both their diet and exercise routines, compared to those who followed only the diet.

What were the limitations of the study?

Since the participants who followed their usual routines were put on a diet after one year, there wasn't a group to compare to at the end of two years.

What are the implications of the study?

Relatives of people with diabetes can help avoid getting the disease by adopting healthy eating habits and increasing their physical activity.

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