Lifestyle Intervention with Lay Volunteers to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes in People at High Risk

Intensive, individualized lifestyle interventions can prevent type 2 diabetes in people at high risk (NEJM JW Gen Med Mar 15 2002 and N Engl J Med 2002; 346:393). In this new study, U.K. researchers determined whether a group-based lifestyle intervention, with or without support by trained lay volunteers, lowered risk for developing type 2 diabetes in 1028 people at high risk (glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA_1c], 6.0%–6.5%; or fasting blood glucose, 100–126 mg/dL). Mean age was 65, and mean body-mass index was 31 kg/m².

Participants were randomized to usual care, lifestyle intervention (6 core sessions and as many as 15 maintenance sessions delivered by a healthcare professional that emphasized behavior changes to achieve diet, weight loss, and …