Lifestyle Changes Cut Prediabetic Adults' Chronic Disease Risk 21% Over 21 Years

3 articles · Updated · Medical News Today · Jun 18

A 21-year study found adults with prediabetes who joined an intensive lifestyle program developed fewer chronic conditions than those given metformin or placebo, cutting overall chronic disease risk by 21%.
The program used 16 initial coaching sessions, monthly follow-ups for about 2 years, a goal of 150 minutes of weekly activity, and at least 7% weight loss—changes researchers said affect multiple disease pathways at once.
By the end of follow-up, 85% of participants had multimorbidity, but the lifestyle group had a median of 4 chronic conditions versus 5 in the metformin and placebo groups.
The lifestyle arm also had lower severe disease clustering: 72% developed more than three chronic conditions, compared with 81% in both the metformin and placebo groups.
The findings matter because more than 2 in 5 U.S. adults have prediabetes, a condition tied not just to type 2 diabetes but also to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, dementia and other age-related illnesses.