The Diabetes Prevention Program works hard at helping us uncover the ways and means to prevent diabetes. Not only did it study the effect of lifestyle changes, it also tested the importance of medicine like metformin in preventing diabetes. Metformin is the medicine that is usually used in treating diabetes. It lowers insulin resistance and the amount of sugar produced by the liver.
We know that diabetes develops gradually to the point the symptoms sometimes do not appear for as long as twelve years and by then, who knows what complications may have already set in. That is why it is good idea to be screened for diabetes if you are at risk for developing the disease. For now, let us examine what happens before the diagnosis is even made. Insulin resistance is slowly increasing causing the blood sugar levels to go up. To combat this, the pancreas tries valiantly to manufacture more insulin but in turn it gets so tired, insulin secretion breaks down. And what is the result? Type 2 diabetes, that's what.
That is why the Diabetes Prevention Program studied the medication that lowers insulin resistance to see if it is successful in preventing diabetes. This what they found. It lowered the risk for developing diabetes by 31%. But here is the kicker. The Diabetes Prevention Program found lifestyle changes lowered the risk of diabetes by 58%. How cool is that!
Which method would you choose to reduce the risk for diabetes? Is it through medication or through lifestyle modification? There are side effects in medication. And this is what surprised me. They said that lifestyle modification also has side effects although fewer ones. What side effects are they talking about here? Perhaps, achy breaky muscles at the start or lack of time? I don't know. People who know about the side effects of lifestyle modification, please enlighten me because I can't think of any.
Someday, they might find that the combination of medication and lifestyle changes is the most effective way to prevent diabetes. The Diabetes Prevention Program has not studied this yet. And here is another kicker for you. Sometimes, lifestyle changes can reduce or do away with the medication.
For the disclaimer and more information on diabetes, please go to this site:
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