As grim as the future may look, there is some good news to report regarding type 2 diabetes. NIH research has shown that type 2 diabetes can be delayed or prevented. This figure depicts disease development in the different racial and ethnic groups in the landmark Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) clinical trial. The DPP compared three approaches -- lifestyle modification, treatment with metformin, and standard medical advice -- in 3,234 overweight people at high risk of developing diabetes.

Patients who received standard medical advice and a sugar pill (placebo) developed diabetes at the highest rate (red bars). Patients in the metformin group also developed diabetes, but the overall rate was about 31 percent less than in the placebo group (yellow bars). Finally, the lifestyle intervention group, the individuals who lowered their caloric intake and walked about 30 minutes per day 5 times a week, showed the most dramatic improvement, with an overall 58 percent decrease of diabetes cases compared to placebo (blue bars). These improvements were seen across all racial and ethnic groups, and in participants of all ages.

This study provides hope to all those prone to develop type 2 diabetes because it demonstrates that small changes in lifestyle could delay or prevent this disease. The NIDDK is currently following DPP participants to explore the durability of the interventions in preventing or delaying type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. We are also vigorously disseminating the prevention message of the DPP, with the hope that more individuals will also benefit from these lessons learned.