Winning strategy to prevent diabetes and related chronic diseases

In the U.S., 115 million adults have prediabetes, which is tied to heart disease and other health problems. A 20-year follow-up to a landmark diabetes study shows lifestyle interventions cut the risk. AILSA CHANG, HOST: There is encouraging news for the roughly 115 million adults in the U.S. with prediabetes. Taking small steps to change your everyday habits, like tweaks to your diet and prioritizing movement, can help prevent both Type 2 diabetes and multiple chronic diseases, including heart disease. NPR's Allison Aubrey joins us now to talk about new research published this week in the medical journal JAMA. Hi, Allison. ALLISON AUBREY, BYLINE: Hi. Great to be here. CHANG: Great to have you. OK, so tell us more about what this new research shows. AUBREY: Sure. This is a fascinating study, Ailsa. It's a follow-up to research that began two decades ago. Back then, several thousand participants with prediabetes and those at high risk - they were in their early 50s at the time - started a lifestyle program. They began to exercise about a half hour a day. They made changes to their diets. And this landmark diabetes prevention program showed these changes were actually enough to fend off diabetes more effectively than taking medication. CHANG: Wow. AUBREY: And now the participants are in their 70s and are still benefiting from these lifestyle changes. …