LIFESTYLES: THE CORNERSTONES OF DIABETES TREATMENT
Changing lifestyles (ie. lack of physical activity and poor nutrition) are largely blamed for the rising prevalence of obesity and related diseases, including type 2 diabetes. Logically, improving lifestyle habits should be part of diabetes treatment and several large trials have shown clinically significant benefits under controlled conditions. Physical activity improves cardiorespiratory fitness, glycemic control and lipid profile, while helping to maintain weight loss. Improved nutrition (increasing fibre, reducing fat and refined carbohydrates) and reduced portion size leads to weight loss and can lower hemoglobin A1c by 1-2%. This has led to incorporation of guidelines for enhancing nutrition and physical activity by
organizations such as the International Diabetes Federation as well as national bodies like the Canadian and American Diabetes Associations. However, translating
such lifestyle programs to general practice and the diabetes population has been hampered by a variety of obstacles occurring at multiple levels, from policy through
to individual patients. This Frontiers Special Topic will explore solutions to implementing widespread lifestyle changes by examining the issues from multiple perspectives.
LIFESTYLES: THE CORNERSTONES OF DIABETES TREATMENT
Changing lifestyles (ie. lack of physical activity and poor nutrition) are largely blamed for the rising prevalence of obesity and related diseases, including type 2 diabetes. Logically, improving lifestyle habits should be part of diabetes treatment and several large trials have shown clinically significant benefits under controlled conditions. Physical activity improves cardiorespiratory fitness, glycemic control and lipid profile, while helping to maintain weight loss. Improved nutrition (increasing fibre, reducing fat and refined carbohydrates) and reduced portion size leads to weight loss and can lower hemoglobin A1c by 1-2%. This has led to incorporation of guidelines for enhancing nutrition and physical activity by
organizations such as the International Diabetes Federation as well as national bodies like the Canadian and American Diabetes Associations. However, translating
such lifestyle programs to general practice and the diabetes population has been hampered by a variety of obstacles occurring at multiple levels, from policy through
to individual patients. This Frontiers Special Topic will explore solutions to implementing widespread lifestyle changes by examining the issues from multiple perspectives.
