Prevention of type 2 diabetes in a primary health care setting interim results from the Greater Green Triangle (GGT) Diabetes Prevention Project

Although clinical trials have shown that lifestyle modifications reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, translating lessons from trials to primary care remains a challenge. The aim of the study was to evaluate efficacy and feasibility of primary care-based diabetes prevention model with modest resource requirements in rural Australia. Three hundred and eleven subjects with at least a moderate risk of type 2 diabetes participated in a combined dietary and physical activity intervention. Clinical measurements and fasting blood samples were taken at the baseline and after intervention. After 3 months intervention, total (change −3.5%, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and LDL cholesterol (−4.8%, <i>p </i>< 0.001) plasma levels as well as body mass index (−2.5%, <i>p</i> < 0.001), weight (−2.5%, <i>p</i> < 0.001), and waist (−1.6%, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and hip (−2.7%,<i> p</i> < 0.001) circumferences reduced significantly. A borderline reduction was found in triglyceride levels (−4.8%, <i>p</i> = 0.058) while no changes were observed in HDL cholesterol (+0.6%, <i>p</i> = 0.525), glucose (+0.06%, <i>p</i> = 0.386), or systolic (−0.98%, <i>p</i> = 0.095) or diastolic (−1.06%, <i>p</i> = 0.134) blood pressure levels. In conclusion, a lifestyle intervention improved health outcomes – especially obesity and blood lipids – in a population at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Our results suggest that the present model is effective and feasible to carry out in primary care settings.<br />