According to experts, people who are at risk of diabetes could keep it at bay by simply following organized diet and exercise programs. The recommendation has come from the Community Preventive Services Task Force, which is an independent, voluntary group of public health and prevention experts who give recommendations for community health.

An analysis of 53 studies explaining 66 combined diet and physical activity promotion programs was commissioned by the group. The studies were conducted between 1991 and 2015. As per a report in Annals of Internal Medicine, the Task Force has come up with a strong proof that these programs help reduce the number of new cases of the disease.

According to Dr. Patrick L. Remington, co-author of the recommendation statement, “If you exercise and eat better, you’ll reduce your risk of developing diabetes. But if you simply tell somebody to eat better and exercise, that does not work”.

The diet and exercise promotion programs had providers or trained laypeople who worked with participants and provided counseling and coaching. Physiotherapists, nutritionists, individually tailored diet and exercise programs in addition to specific weight-loss goals were also included in some programs.

The programs focused on teens and adults having “pre-diabetes”, in which blood sugar levels increase but are not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

According to Dr. Ethan Balk of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island and lead author of the evidence review, on the whole, people who are overweight and those who have an inactive lifestyle could be at risk of developing diabetes and both adults and children could be affected.