Patients with prediabetes taking inadequate precautions

In 2005, almost 30% of the U.S. adult population had prediabetes, but only 7% were aware of their prediabetes status, according to new study findings.

Further, results indicate that risk-reduction efforts among U.S. adults with prediabetes are insufficient. Diet, exercise and lifestyle changes were largely absent in many at-risk individuals in the study cohort, and these behaviors were under-advised by health care professionals.

“Only a small percentage of U.S. adults with prediabetes are aware that they are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes and only about half made behavioral changes in the past year consistent with reducing diabetes risk,” the researchers wrote. “The majority did not receive any advice about diabetes risk-reduction behaviors from their health care provider in the past year.”

Data were drawn from the 2005 to 2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The researchers analyzed 1,402 adults aged 20 years and older without diabetes who had valid fasting plasma glucose and oral glucose tolerance tests.

Participants were asked whether they had performed three risk-reduction activities in the past 12 months. Half of the population with prediabetes reported trying to lose or control weight, 54.7% claimed they reduced fat and calories, and 48.5% reported increasing their physical activity.

When participants with prediabetes were asked if a physician or other health care specialist suggested the aforementioned risk-reduction techniques in the previous 12 months, only 29.7% reported being advised to lose or control weight, 31.9% reported being advised to reduce fat and calories, and 34.2% reported being advised to increase their physical activity.

Advice from health care providers, female sex and overweight/obesity were all positively associated with the risk-reducing behaviors of attempting to lose or control weight, reduce fat and calories, and increase physical activity.

“Reversing the national trends in diabetes incidence is likely to require multiple tiers of interventions, including increased promotion of risk-reduction behaviors and healthy lifestyles for people at risk, as well as increased availability of evidence-based programs in communities for people at high risk,” the researchers concluded. “More efficient identification and awareness of risk on the part of patients, their providers, health care systems and health payers are likely to be a key first step to implementing these changes.”

Geiss LS. Am J Prev Med. 2010;doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2009.12.029.