Evidence That Exercise Forestalls Effects of Diabetes -- Future and Present

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A “state-of-the-art” review that defines the criteria for pre-diabetes says that the evidence for using medication to forestall progression to microvascular disease is inconclusive. The preferred clinical approach for both pre-diabetes and metabolic syndrome is to modify risk factors, says the author, through weight reduction and physical exercise.


RESULT:  Pre-Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, and Cardiovascular Risk
Journal of the American College of Cardiology | Feb 14, 2012 (Free abstract. Full text $15.00)



A new guideline from the American College of Physicians recommends initiating oral antidiabetics only after trying lifestyle modifications to reduce hyperglycemia. It advises beginning with metformin monotherapy while continuing improvements in diet and physical activity, and proceeding to multi-drug therapy only after the combination of lifestyle and metformin(Drug information on metformin) fail to control blood sugar.


RESULT:  Oral Pharmacologic Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians
Annals of Internal Medicine | Feb 6, 2012 (FREE FULL TEXT)



Even when patients with type 2 diabetes need insulin therapy, exercise can have significant benefit, but perhaps only when it’s carried out in a structured manner. This study showed that a supervised exercise program significantly reduced the adverse effects that insulin therapy exacerbates, such as increased BMI, blood pressure, and LDL cholesterol, compared to mere counseling about lifestyle factors.


RESULT: Supervised Exercise Training Counterbalances the Adverse Effects of Insulin Therapy in Overweight/Obese Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes | Jan 01, 2012 (Free abstract. Full text $45)