Diabetes

Frequently Asked Questions

13. Can lifestyle changes help older people avoid diabetes?

The results of the Diabetes Prevention Program conducted by the National Institute on Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases showed that lifestyle changes that led to weight loss -- such as making healthy food choices and getting more exercise -- were effective in helping to reduce the development of diabetes in all age groups tested.

These lifestyle changes were especially effective in people aged 60 and older, reducing the development of type 2 diabetes by 71 percent. This is an important discovery because nearly 27 percent of people aged 65 and older develop diabetes.