Long-term Effects of a Lifestyle Intervention on Weight and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Top Cited Papers
Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Improving glycemic control and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is critical for preventing long-term vascular complications of this disease and has led to increased emphasis on screening and pharmacologic management of these risk factors. Lifestyle-based weight loss interventions are also recommended to improve glycemic control and risk factors, but the evidence supporting the efficacy of lifestyle approaches is limited to short-term studies of typically less than 1 year.1-4 With recent improvements in behavioral weight loss interventions5,6 and increased recognition of the impact of lifestyle approaches for prevention of type 2 DM,7,8 it is timely to examine the longer-term effects of these interventions on changes in glycemic control and CVD risk factors in individuals with type 2 DM.