Individuals living with prediabetes are less at risk of going on to develop type 2 diabetes if they follow a digital lifestyle programme, recent research has demonstrated.
A new study has found that people with prediabetes who are following an online behavioural lifestyle intervention are 46% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes in the next 10 years compared to those not on a digital programme.
Type 2 diabetes is associated with a higher risk of developing several other health conditions, such as neuropathy, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), retinopathy and kidney disease.
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In the US, more than 33% of middle-aged and older adults are living with prediabetes. Previous research has revealed that in-person lifestyle programmes are not widely adopted, despite them having good health outcomes.
In the trial, the team of researchers examined the health outcomes of 133,764 adults, 36.2% of whom are living with prediabetes and 7.5% with type 2 diabetes. Each participant received a blood test before and after the trial.
Some of the participants agreed to follow a digital, voluntary, dietitian-guided lifestyle programme focused on dietary and behavioural changes.
Those with prediabetes who followed a digital lifestyle programme were 45.6% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes over the next 10 years compared to the participants who made no changes to their lifestyle.
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In addition, adults with prediabetes in the digital intervention group reduced their triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, the study has reported.
Results have also shown that the participants with type 2 diabetes who followed a digital lifestyle intervention were more likely to achieve remission compared to those not following an online behavioural programme.
The findings state: “Metabolic deterioration starts well before clinical diabetes is diagnosed, underlining the importance of early identification.”
The authors added: “Broader evidence suggests fully digital interventions may have more modest impacts than blended or face-to-face approaches.”
Read the full study in the journal Nutrients.
