Report shows people with type 2 diabetes favour lifestyle changes over medication

Adapting lifestyle is the favoured way people with type 2 diabetes want to manage the condition, according to a new survey.
The poll showed 81% of those with the condition say they would prefer to eat better and exercise, before taking prescription drugs.
Responding to the findings, Dr Aseem Malhotra, NHS Consultant Cardiologist and Professor of Evidence Based Medicine said: “The current management of patients with type 2 diabetes is upside down. Costly drugs to manage blood glucose don’t address the root cause of the condition.
“In addition, type 2 diabetes medication comes with potential side effects that hinder a patient’s quality of life, increases hospital admissions and doesn’t prolong a patient’s lifespan.”
The Liva Healthcare research also revealed that 54% of healthcare professionals questioned would rather treat type 2 diabetes through lifestyle changes such as losing weight and getting regular exercise.
Dr Malhotra added: “The good news is that, with my patients, I have found that the condition is reversible in up to 60% of patients. The best results come within a year of pure dietary changes that specifically cut out added sugar and processed carbohydrate foods.
“Supporting front line clinicians with technology that gives patients a lifestyle prescription to manage the condition will not only save hundreds of millions of NHS money, but will also improve patients’ quality of life; something which a drug-centric approach cannot do.”
The report also looked at other challenges related to type 2 diabetes. Nearly a quarter of those asked (24%) admitting they were concerned about passing on their poor lifestyle habits to their children and two thirds said they worried about their poor health.
Dr Roger Henderso, GP and UK medical director at Liva Healthcare said: “Type 2 diabetes is both preventable and reversible. With the right management and support network, patients can take control of their diabetes in both the short and long term.”
Editor’s note: One of the major benefits of our Low Carb Program is being able to come off type 2 diabetes medication through eating a healthy, real-food diet and making additional lifestyle changes. More than 40% of people with type 2 diabetes who start the program on medication eliminate a medication from their regime at 1-year.