Chances are, you know someone who has diabetes. It might even be you. Diabetes is one of the most common disorders in the U.S. It affects about 1 in 9 Americans. Diabetes raises your risk for serious health problems. It can damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart, and it is linked to some types of cancer.
Now, what if you learned that there’s a low-cost, scientifically proven way to greatly reduce your chances of getting type 2 diabetes, the most common type? Would you give it a try?
More than two decades ago, a landmark NIH-supported study, called the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), released its results. It found that people at high risk for diabetes were much less likely to get the disorder if they lost a little weight through healthy eating and physical activity. Their risk of getting diabetes dropped by nearly 60 % compared to people who did not aim to make healthy changes.
