Individuals diagnosed with prediabetes can reduce their long-term risk of death and diabetes-related health complications if they delay the onset of diabetes for just four years through diet and exercise, according to Guangwei Li of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital.

Type 2 diabetes is linked to a higher risk of death and disability and places a substantial economic burden on individuals and societies globally. Making lifestyle changes, like eating a healthy diet and increasing physical activity, can postpone or decrease the risk of developing diabetes in people diagnosed with impaired glucose tolerance, also known as prediabetes. However, it is still uncertain how long a person needs to delay diabetes to guarantee better long-term health.

In a recent study, researchers examined the health outcomes of 540 prediabetic individuals enrolled in the original Da Qing Diabetes Prevention Study. This six-year trial took place in Da Qing City, China, starting in 1986. The participants were divided into a control group and three lifestyle intervention groups. The lifestyle intervention groups focused on following a healthy diet, increasing physical activity, or both. The trial monitored the participants for over 30 years.

Li’s team conducted a study to assess the long-term risks for participants with diabetes. They discovered that individuals who remained non-diabetic for at least four years after their initial diagnosis had a much lower risk of dying and experiencing cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks, strokes, or heart failure, compared to those who developed diabetes earlier. This protection was not observed in individuals who remained non-diabetic for less than four years.

Overall, the analysis indicates that delaying the onset of diabetes for prediabetic individuals leads to improved long-term health outcomes. Even maintaining prediabetic status for just a few years can have long-lasting benefits.

The authors state, “This study suggests that individuals with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) who maintain a longer duration of non-diabetes status experience better health outcomes and reduced mortality. Implementing effective interventions for individuals with IGT should be considered as a strategy for preventing diabetes and diabetes-related vascular complications.”