According to a study led by Dr. Guangwei Li published in The Lancet medical journal, a modified diet and exercise could delay diabetes for several years, even up to 14 years.
Between 1986 and 1996, 577 subjects aged 25 to 70 were observed. The participants had glucose intolerance, one of the conditions associated with Type 2 diabetes.
During the course of the study, participants who radically changed their lifestyles decreased their incidences of having diabetes by half. In addition, 20 years after the research began, subjects keeping the regiment experienced a 43% decrease of diabetes.
In the control group, the detection rate was 11%, while the group following a regiment had a rate of 7%.
In Canada alone, close to two million people are affected with diabetes. The disease is responsible for 6% of deaths worldwide.