Dietary Strategies to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
The continuing rise in the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes and the burden this places on individuals and society has brought a new focus to strategies for prevention. Observational studies have suggested that a number of dietary components may modulate risk, but intervention studies focused on individual nutrients have been less convincing.
The limited impact of these tightly controlled interventions contrasts with a ‘whole-diet approach’, especially where this includes a focus on achieving and maintaining weight-loss. Studies such as the Finnish Diabetes Prevention trial have shown a marked reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes. Secondary analyses suggest the effect is driven by weight loss, with additional contributions from reductions in SFA and increases in fibre.
However, the greatest challenge lies in implementing dietary change, particularly in the context of weight reduction. The success achieved in intensive research studies is not easily replicated at scale and resource constraints mean that individual-level interventions are unlikely to be a sustainable option.
Accordingly the emphasis is shifting to population-level solutions to change the environment in which we live to halt the rise in diabetes and other chronic diseases.
Susan Jebb
Head of Nutrition and Health Research
Medical Research Council Human Nutrition Research Unit
Susan Jebb is a scientist at MRC Human Nutrition Research in Cambridge. Her research team specialise in explanatory dietary intervention studies while also seeking to translate this evidence into policy and practice.
Susan chairs the cross-government Expert Advisory group on Obesity. In 2008 she was awarded an OBE for services to public health and in 2009 the Biosciences Federation ‘Science Communicator’ Award.