New Study Links Dieting And Exercise To A Decreased Risk Of Diabetes

KYW's Medical Reports Sponsored By Independence Blue Cross

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Back in the days when we were just learning about adult onset or type two diabetes there were many theories about how to prevent it—or at least delay it. The most valuable lessons we learned were that this form of diabetes is the result of certain receptors in the body not responding to the hormone insulin the way that they should and as a result the blood sugar started to rise.

We also learned that a good diet and regular exercise seemed to help people who had adult onset diabetes do better—often eliminating the need for medication. We are now at the point where we look at type 2 diabetes as developing gradually over time, and know that the exercise and diet changes should start earlier and possibly prevent or significantly delay it from occurring.

A major new study presented at a national cardiology conference supports this; the researchers found that higher fitness was associated with a lower risk of developing incident diabetes and pre-diabetes after 25 years.