In a nutshell
This study investigated whether health-related changes to behaviour were associated with decreased cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes
Some background
Healthy behavior changes include increased physical activity, improved diet and decreased alcohol intake. Such changes have previously been shown to have a beneficial effect on diabetes and some related complications. However, previous studies have not been large enough, or of long enough duration, to determine the effect of such healthy behavior changes on cardiovascular risk in diabetes.
Methods & findings
This study aimed to determine whether healthy behavior changes made in the first year after diagnosis of type 2 diabetes were associated with decreased cardiovascular risk.
867 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients were included in the study. Pariticipants completed a a physical activity questionnaire and answered questions about their diet and alcohol intake. A blood test was also performed to measure vitamin C levels (to measure intake of fruit and vegetables). The occurrence of death due to illness of the heart, heart attack, stroke and heart surgery was measured.
Patients who increased physical activity had a 47% reduced cardiovascular risk in comparison to patients who did not. Similarly, patients who decreased alcohol intake had a 60% lower cardiovascular risk than patients who did not decrease alcohol intake. Patients who did not make any healthy behavior changes had a 3.71 times higher cardiovascular risk than patients who made 3 or 4 healthy behaviour changes (including altering physical activity,diet, alcohol intake, smoking status and body mass index [measurement based on height and weight]).
The bottom line
The authors concluded that healthy behaviour changes made by type 2 diabetes patients in the first year after diagnosis were associated with a significant reduction in cardiovascular risk.
The fine print
97% of participants were Caucasian so these findings may not be applicable to other racial and ethnic groups.
What’s next?
Consult your doctor if you have diabetes and you would like to decrease your cardiovascular risk.
Published By :
Diabetes Care
Date :
Mar 21, 2014
