Even Later In Life, Most Cases Of Diabetes Linked To Lifestyle

A recent study in the Archives of Internal Medicine investigated the effect of combined lifestyle factors on the development of type 2 diabetes in older adults.¹

Researchers analyzed data from participants of the Cardiovascular Health Study:

• 4883 men and women 65 years or older
  
• Followed for a 10-year period (1989-1998)

Five lifestyle factors were studied:

• Physical activity level.
  
• Dietary score. A low-risk score reflected:
  • Higher fiber intake
    
  • Higher polyunsaturated-to-saturated fat ratio
    
  • Lower trans-fat intake
    
  • Lower glycemic index
• Smoking. Never smoked or former smoker greater than 20 years reflected low-risk.
  
• Alcohol use. Light or moderate intake reflected low-risk.
  
• Body fat. Low-risk reflected:
  • BMI less than 25 (Calculate your BMI here.)
    
  • Waist circumference 88 cm or less for women (34.6 in), 92 cm for men (36.2 in)

The study found:

"The rate of incident diabetes was 35% lower for each 1 additional lifestyle factor in the low-risk group.

Participants whose physical activity level and dietary, smoking, and alcohol habits were all in the low-risk group had an 82% lower incidence of diabetes.

When absence of adiposity (either body mass index < 25 or waist circumference ≤ 88/92 cm for women/men) was added to the other 4 low-risk lifestyle factors, incidence of diabetes was 89% lower.

Overall, 9 of 10 new cases of diabetes appeared to be attributable to these 5 lifestyle factors."

The authors concluded:

"Even later in life, combined lifestyle factors are associated with a markedly lower incidence of new-onset diabetes mellitus."

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¹ Lifestyle Risk Factors And New-Onset Diabetes Mellitus In Older Adults, Archives of Internal Medicine, April 27, 2009