Urban Poling in the Prevention & Management of Type 2 Diabetes

November is Diabetes Awareness Month and we’re tipping the scales Canada! Learn more about our ever successful Walk UP for Diabetes Course geared towards Diabetes Professionals. Thus far, we have trained well over 200 professionals across the country in our program and there are many more to come through Diabetes Month and beyond! Our program, which was designed by a doctor and Canadian Kinesiologist, a Fitness Expert, and an Occupational Therapist, is centered on the Wellness Continuum and incorporates information pertaining to maintaining a healthy diet in addition to several other key components. A recent study which supports the efficacy of our program is described below by Dr. Agnes Coutinho:

A new study was published on September 13^th in the Lancet journal describing the outcome of a Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study. In this interesting study, researchers compared long term effects of lifestyle intervention (such as physical activity and healthy diet) with treatment through medication (in this case metformin) in patients with a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The patients in the lifestyle group were given lifestyle support twice per year, while the medication group received a metformin prescription. At the end of the study, patients were assessed on whether they developed full diabetes, as well as microvascular disease (a complication of diabetes such as kidney, eye, or nerve disease).

Although patients in both groups; the medication group and lifestyle intervention group, had reduced onset of diabetes over 15 years, compared to the patients who did not receive any treatment, the lifestyle intervention group showed the greatest protection from diabetes. The lifestyle intervention group had 27% reduction in onset of diabetes, while the medication group had a reduction of 18%. This means that both lifestyle and medication play an important role in lowering the chances of developing diabetes, however, lifestyle may play a larger role (at least in some patients!). The study went on to say that women in the lifestyle intervention group developed less microvascular complications than the medication or no-treatment groups. Overall, the results from this study highlight the importance of lifestyle modifications, such as participating in regular physical activity and eating a healthy diet, in helping prevent diabetes.  Click here to read the full study.

Walk Your Way to Better Health and more to come from UP on how we are Tipping the Scales in Canada towards Prevention……..Prevention is the Cure!