Lifestyle counselling improves diets and lowers risk of type 2 diabetes

Study finds men offered group-based and online support could reduce health risks – even for those genetically more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

Health-promoting dietary changes and support for middle-aged and older men has been found to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Dietary changes offered in group-based and online lifestyle counselling were found to have positive health benefits, especially among men with a high genetic risk, according to the results of a recent study conducted at the University of Eastern Finland.

The T2D-GENE study investigated the effects of group-based and online lifestyle counselling on dietary changes among men living in the eastern part of Finland, and how these changes influenced their risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Researchers also examined whether a high genetic predisposition to type 2 diabetes could have an impact on the benefits gained from dietary changes.

Over a three-year period, men in the intervention group received lifestyle counselling. The study found that lifestyle counselling delivered in group sessions and through a web portal helped participants adopt healthier dietary habits.

Health-promoting dietary choices were linked with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, particularly among those carrying a high number of diabetes-associated risk genes.

In addition, a fibre intake that met recommendations for nutrition were found to have the most benefit for participants carrying the genetic variant TCF7L2, known to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Participants in the intervention group successfully increased their intake of fibre, whole grain products, berries, vegetables, fish and plant-based oils.

During this period there was a decrease in reported consumption of sausages, high-fat cheeses, low-fibre grain products, sweets and butter.

At the conclusion of study, those receiving lifestyle counselling were, in general, reported to be consuming more health-promoting foods than those in the control group.

Several previous studies have shown that type 2 diabetes can be prevented, or at least delayed, through health-promoting lifestyle habits.

Ulla Tolonen, Doctoral Researcher at the University of Eastern Finland and study author, said: “We need to find resource-efficient ways within healthcare to support these lifestyle changes. Group-based and online counselling is more resource-efficient than individual counselling.

“Our new findings show that group-based and online counselling is sufficient to support lifestyle changes among individuals with a high genetic risk of type 2 diabetes.”

Consumption of individual foods by participants in the study was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, while fibre intake was evaluated both through food records and by measuring plasma alkylresorcinol – a biomarker of whole grain intake.

The incidence of type 2 diabetes and blood glucose levels were measured by an oral glucose tolerance test.

Genetic risk was assessed either by a risk score calculated on the basis of 76 risk genes, or by the genotype TCF7L2. All participants had impaired fasting blood glucose at baseline.

Researchers concluded: “A group-based lifestyle intervention improved diet quality. Healthy dietary pattern associated with lower risk for type 2 diabetes, whereas unhealthy pattern associated with higher risk. After stratification by the genetic risk score, associations were evident in participants with a high genetic risk for type 2 diabetes.”

Read the report in the European Journal of Nutrition and Clinical Nutrition

Read more about type 2 diabetes