Diabetes: Combined Diet and Physical Activity Promotion Programs to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes Among People at Increased Risk

The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends combined diet and physical activity promotion programs for people at increased risk of type 2 diabetes to reduce new-onset diabetes. CPSTF found that these programs increase the likelihood of reverting to normal blood sugar and improve diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk factors¬ — and that higher-intensity programs lead to greater weight loss and reduction in diabetes. Programs commonly include: 

• A weight loss goal
• Individual or group sessions (or both) about diet and exercise
• Meetings with a trained diet or exercise counselor (or both)
• Individually tailored diet or exercise plans (or both) 

Economic evidence indicates that the programs are cost-effective.