Those at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes don't seek lifestyle counseling, research finds

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Many patients that are at risk of Type 2 diabetes don't believe they require lifestyle counseling to help them curb their chance of developing the disease, according to new research published in the journal Diabetes Care.

Pooling data from 10,149 patients that participated in the Finnish National Diabetes Prevention Project, researchers led by Sanna Salmela of the University of Jyväskylä in Finland found that 36% of men and 52% of women believed they needed counseling. What's more, those that agreed to attend supervised lifestyle intervention were more likely to report a perceived need than those who agreed on a self-initiated lifestyle change or those who refused to attend lifestyle intervention. The need was associated with actual attendance in the lifestyle intervention only among women, the authors added.

"It will be vital to find additional means to support lifestyle change," the authors concluded.

The full study results can be found here.

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