Quasi-experimental evaluation of a nationwide diabetes prevention programme.

Diabetes is a leading cause of morbidity, mortality and cost of illness1,2. Health behaviours, particularly those related to nutrition and physical activity, play a key role in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus3. Whereas behaviour change programmes (also known as lifestyle interventions or similar) have been found efficacious in controlled clinical trials4,5, there remains controversy about whether targeting health behaviours at the individual level is an effective preventive strategy for type 2 diabetes mellitus6 and doubt among clinicians that lifestyle advice and counselling provided in the routine health system can achieve improvements in health7-9. Here we show that being referred to the largest behaviour change programme for prediabetes globally (the English Diabetes Prevention Programme) is effective in improving key cardiovascular risk factors, including glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), excess body weight and serum lipid levels. We do so by using a regression discontinuity design10, which uses the eligibility threshold in HbA1c for referral to the behaviour change programme, in electronic health data from about one-fifth of all primary care practices in England. We confirm our main finding, the improvement of HbA1c, using two other quasi-experimental approaches: difference-in-differences analysis exploiting the phased roll-out of the programme and instrumental variable estimation exploiting regional variation in programme coverage. This analysis provides causal, rather than associational, evidence that lifestyle advice and counselling implemented at scale in a national health system can achieve important health improvements.

Feasibility of prevention of type 2 diabetes in low- and middle-income countries.

Type 2 diabetes is a leading cause of global mortality and morbidity. Nearly 80% of individuals with diabetes live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where nearly half of those with the condition remain undiagnosed. The majority of known cases have sub-optimal clinical outcomes. Moreover, large populations with impaired glucose tolerance and/or impaired fasting glucose contribute to the rapid increase in type 2 diabetes. Globally, priority should be given to limit the population with diabetes, especially in LMICs, alongside actions to optimise the care of people diagnosed with diabetes. Primary prevention studies in LMICs have generated evidence to show the efficacy and scalability of strategies to fully prevent or delay the development of diabetes in high-risk groups. However, these are mainly limited to certain countries in Asia, particularly China and India. The studies have indicated that prevention policies are effective in populations with a high risk of type 2 diabetes, and they also have long-term benefits, not only for the risk of type 2 diabetes but also for the risk of associated metabolic disorders, such as CVDs. For the effective conduct of national programmes, innovative mechanisms must be implemented, such as the use of information technology, joint efforts of multiple teams implementing similar programmes, and involvement of governmental and non-governmental partnerships. Continuous monitoring and long-term studies are required to assess the utility of these programmes. The effectiveness of such programmes in LMICs has not been proven over the longer term, except in China. Despite the available evidence, the feasibility of prevention strategies for type 2 diabetes in LMICs at population level remains an enigma. There remain challenges in the form of cultural, societal and economic constraints; insufficient infrastructure and healthcare capacity; and the non-fully elucidated natural history and determinants of type 2 diabetes in LMICs.

Test and Treat for Prediabetes: A Review of the Health Effects of Prediabetes and the Role of Screening and Prevention.

The term prediabetes describes blood glucose levels above the normal range but below the threshold to diagnose type 2 diabetes. Several population health initiatives encourage a test and treat approach for prediabetes. In this approach, screening and identification of individuals with prediabetes should be followed by prompt referral to structured lifestyle modification programs or pharmacologic interventions that have been shown to prevent or delay the progression to type 2 diabetes in clinical trials. Here we provide a critical review of evidence for this test and treat approach by examining health outcomes associated with prediabetes and the availability and effectiveness of lifestyle modification approaches that target prediabetes. We also describe current limitations to the reach and uptake of evidence-based treatment options for prediabetes. Finally, we highlight lessons learned from identifying and labeling other preconditions to consider challenges and opportunities that may arise with increasing awareness of prediabetes as part of routine preventive care.

Intergenerational differences in healthy eating beliefs among British Pakistanis with type 2 diabetes.

INTRODUCTION: There are growing concerns on how to prevent, slow down and induce remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Recent evidence has found diet and lifestyle interventions can cause remission of T2DM, however, there are challenges for diverse groups such as British Pakistanis who are four times more at risk of T2DM. There is a need to understand the food behaviours of different generational groups to develop culturally appropriate strategies to support diabetes prevention programmes. AIMS: This study explores beliefs about healthy eating and food practices related to T2DM among British Pakistanis to understand the challenges they face in implementing healthy diets. METHOD: We carried out 26 semi-structured qualitative interviews via telephone and face-to-face. The sample included T2DM British Pakistanis living in Bradford (UK), aged between 18 and 71 with a mean age of 50 (SD = 17.04). Among the participants, 14 were women (54%) and 12 were men (46%), with interviews conducted in both English (76%) and Urdu (24%). Participants were grouped under three generation groups based on age (first generation 65+; second generation 40-64; younger generation 18-39 years). There was no biological link between the generational groups, and they were not part of the same family. Data were analysed using qualitative reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Findings were categorised into three themes: knowledge and awareness of diabetes symptoms; social and family context of food practices and making sense of healthy eating. The family was the fundamental unit of understanding food-related health behaviours. Eating traditional food was perceived as healthy and deemed practical for first generations who were the initial members of their family to settle in the UK as well as the second generations who had parents born in Pakistan. Younger British Pakistanis were born in the UK and reported that they struggled to eat alternative foods within the home and manage their T2DM. CONCLUSION: These findings improve our understanding of how three generations of British Pakistanis with T2DM negotiate healthy diets. There is a need for culturally tailored diet modifications and interventions, where different generational needs can be specifically targeted to adopt healthier diets which should be shared and encouraged.

The effectiveness of pharmacological and lifestyle interventions to reduce the risk of diabetes and hyperglycaemia following gestational diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIMS: To synthesize the available evidence to better understand the effectiveness of interventions to prevent or delay hyperglycaemia and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) postnatally in women with current or previous gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: We searched five databases up to December 2020 for primary peer-reviewed articles reporting postpartum glycaemic outcomes in women with (previous) GDM following pharmacological or lifestyle intervention. Outcomes were relative risk of T2DM or continuous measures of glycaemia, change or at follow-up. A minimum of two studies evaluating the same intervention-outcome combination were needed to conduct meta-analyses, otherwise studies were described narratively. Meta-regression was used to evaluate whether associations varied by additional variables. We assessed risk of bias using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist. PROSPERO record CRD42018102380. RESULTS: We included 31 studies in the review with a total sample size of 8624 participants, and 26 studies in meta-analyses. Two-thirds of studies followed up participants at 1 year or less. Pharmacological interventions were associated with reduced risk of T2DM (0.80 [95% CI 0.64-1.00], n = 6 studies), as were lifestyle interventions albeit with a smaller effect size (0.88 [95% CI 0.76-1.01], n = 12 studies). Dietary and physical activity interventions were associated with a small reduction in fasting plasma glucose, particularly in longer interventions, but inconsistent effects were seen for other continuous outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Although possibly due to chance, interventions to reduce hyperglycaemia after GDM may be effective. Future research should improve understanding of how interventions affect glucose control and how to optimise interventions for this population.

Factors influencing participation in an online national diabetes prevention programme: A qualitative study with attenders and educators.

AIM: To explore factors affecting participation in the pilot of the synchronous online national diabetes prevention programme (NDPP) in Ireland from the perspectives of those who attended and the educators who recruited for and delivered the programme. METHODS: A qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews and focus groups with NDPP attenders (attended the assessment and at least one session) and educators (dietitians) on the programme. The Framework Method using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) guided the analysis. RESULTS: Thirteen attenders took part in two online focus groups and five online or phone interviews. Eight educators took part. Four themes which cut across the TDF domains were identified as factors influencing participation; (i) lack of awareness of prediabetes and fear of diabetes, relating to attenders' fear of diabetes and lack of knowledge of prediabetes and diabetes prevention; (ii) perceived need for programme support to change health behaviour, concerning attenders' and educators' recognition of the need for the NDPP; (iii) trust in healthcare professionals (HCPs), relating to trust in HCPs to convey the seriousness of prediabetes and the value of diabetes prevention programmes (DPPs) and (iv) practical and personal ease of joining online, relating to the flexibility and accessibility of the synchronous online group format, the IT skills of attenders and educators and apprehension about group education. CONCLUSIONS: Raising awareness of prediabetes and the need for prevention programmes should be a priority for health services and HCPs. The synchronous online group format was seen as less daunting to join than a face-to-face programme and may be a useful option to encourage participation.

Dietary Diabetes Risk Reduction Score (DDRRS) and Breast Cancer Risk: A Case-Control Study in Iran.

INTRODUCTION: Given the role of type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance in tumor initiation, we hypothesized that following a diet that reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes could also reduce the risk of breast cancer. Herein, we conducted a case-control study to investigate the association between dietary diabetes risk reduction score and breast cancer risk in Iranian women. METHOD: We recruited 136 newly diagnosed cases and 272 age-matched hospitalized controls from referral hospitals. A valid and reliable 168-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to collect the data on dietary intake. We used Multivariate Logistic regression to assess the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) of breast cancer by the dietary diabetes risk reduction score tertiles. RESULTS: After adjusting for confounding variables, no association was seen between dietary diabetes risk reduction score and breast cancer risk (OR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.37-1.14). However, after stratification by menopausal status, a decreased risk was observed between adherence to dietary diabetes risk reduction score and breast cancer risk in postmenopausal individuals (OR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.19-0.99). CONCLUSION: The present study states that there is no significant relationship between the dietary diabetes risk reduction score and the risk of breast cancer. However, adherence to dietary diabetes risk reduction score could have a preventive role for breast cancer among postmenopausal women.

Novel Type of Slowly Digested Starch Complex with Antioxidant Properties.

With the increasing number of diabetic patients in the world, there is an urgent requirement to reduce the incidence of diabetes. It is considered that a viable prophylactic treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus is to reduce starch digestibility and oxidative stress. In this study, a novel type of slowly digested starch [pea starch (PS)-gingerol complex] was fabricated to evaluate its in vitro enzymatic digestibility and antioxidant activities. Theoretical and experimental analyses showed that PS can encapsulate gingerols with long alkyl chains to form starch-gingerol complexes, which are further stacked into a mixture of V6- and V7-crystallites. These complexes, in particular the PS-10-gingerol complex, showed high resistance to amylolysis and good antioxidant activities. This study demonstrates that these novel starch-gingerol complexes have the potential to deliver antioxidants encapsulated in starch with slow-digesting properties and reduce oxidative stress. Moreover, this new type of slowly digested starch with antioxidant properties showed great potential in the prevention of type 2 diabetes.

Healthy Outcomes through Peer Educators: Feasibility of a peer support diabetes prevention programme for African-American grandmother caregivers.

AIM: To assess the protocol feasibility and intervention acceptability of a community-based, peer support diabetes prevention programme (DPP) for African-American (AA) grandmother caregivers at risk for diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Grandmother caregivers were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to DPP (active comparator) or DPP plus HOPE (Healthy Outcomes through Peer Educators; intervention). DPP + HOPE incorporated support from a peer educator who met with participants in person or by telephone every week during the 1-year intervention. Outcomes included: (1) recruitment rates, outcome assessment, and participation adherence rates assessed quantitatively; and (2) acceptability of the programme assessed through end-of-programme focus groups. RESULTS: We successfully consented and enrolled 78% (n = 35) of the 45 AA grandmothers screened for eligibility. Eighty percent of participants (aged 64.4 ± 5.7 years) were retained up to Week 48 (74% for DPP [n = 17] and 92% for DPP + HOPE [n = 11]). All grandmothers identified social support, neighbourhood safety, and access to grocery stores as influences on their health behaviours. At Month 12, the active comparator (DPP) group and the intervention group (DPP + HOPE) had a mean change in body weight from baseline of -3.5 ± 5.5 (-0.68, -6.29) kg and - 4.4 ± 5.7 (-0.59, -8.2) kg, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This viable study met the aim of educating and equipping AA grandmothers with the practical and sustained support needed to work toward better health for themselves and their grandchildren, who may be at risk for diabetes. The intervention was both feasible and acceptable to participating grandmothers and their organizations.

Level of attendance at the English National Health Service Diabetes Prevention Programme and risk of progression to type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the dose-response relationship between the level of attendance at the English National Health Service Diabetes Prevention Programme (DPP) and risk of progression to type 2 diabetes amongst individuals participating in the programme. METHODS: We linked data on DPP attendance for 51,803 individuals that were referred to the programme between 1st June 2016 and 31st March 2018 and attended at least one programme session, with primary care records of type 2 diabetes diagnoses from the National Diabetes Audit up to 31st March 2020. Weibull survival regressions were used to estimate the association between the number of programme sessions attended and risk of progression to type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: Risk of developing type 2 diabetes declined significantly for individuals attending seven of the 13 programme sessions and continued to decline further up to 12 sessions. Attending the full 13 sessions was associated with a 45.5% lower risk (HR: 0.545 95% CI: 0.455 to 0.652). Compared to individuals that only partially attended the programme, attendance at 60% or more of the sessions was associated with a 30.7% lower risk of type 2 diabetes (HR: 0.693 95% CI: 0.645 to 0.745). CONCLUSIONS: Reducing the risk of progression to type 2 diabetes through diabetes prevention programmes requires a minimum attendance level at seven of the 13 programme sessions (54%). Retaining participants beyond this minimum level yields further benefits in diabetes risk reduction. Commissioners may wish to consider altering provider payment schedules to incentivise higher retention levels beyond 60% of programme sessions.

The cost-effectiveness of metformin in the US diabetes prevention program trial: Simple interpretations need not apply.

Based on previously published US Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs) metformin continues to be promoted as "cost-effective." We review the DPP within-trial CEA to assess this claim. Treatment alternatives included placebo (plus standard lifestyle advice), branded metformin and individual lifestyle modification. We added generic metformin as an alternative. Original published CEA data were taken as given and re-analyzed according to accepted principles for calculating incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) in the economic evaluation field. With more than two treatments as in the DPP, these require attention to the rankings of interventions according to cost or effect prior to stipulating appropriate ICERs to calculate. With proper ICERs neither branded nor generic metformin was cost-effective, regardless of the value assumed for the willingness to pay for the quality-adjusted life year outcome assessed. Metformin alternatives were technically inefficient compared to placebo or the lifestyle modification alternative. Net loss calculations indicated substantial costs/health losses to using metformin instead of the optimal lifestyle alternative in response to metformin having been inaccurately labelled "cost-effective" in the original CEA. That CEA and subsequent analyses and citations of such analyses continue to claim that both metformin and lifestyle modification are cost-effective in diabetes prevention based on DPP data. Using metformin implies substantial costs and health losses compared to the cost-effective lifestyle modification. It may be that metformin has a role in cost-effective diabetes prevention, but this has yet to be shown based on DPP data.

Association between dietary antioxidants intake and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a prospective cohort study: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study.

The present prospective cohort study aimed to determine whether dietary antioxidants were associated with incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Another objective was to find out whether such associations could be modified by the BMI status. A total of 2188 Tehranian adults aged 21-84 years, free of T2DM with the validated FFQ, was entered in the study. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for confounders were used to assess the association between dietary antioxidants and incident T2DM in total population, as well as in subjects with various BMI statuses. During 8·9 (8·1-9·6) years of follow-up, dietary vitamin E significantly decreased the incident T2DM, after adjustment for confounders. However, other dietary antioxidants were not shown to be significantly associated with incident T2DM. The interaction between dietary vitamin E, Mg and BMI status was found to influence the risk of T2DM (Pfor interaction < 0·05). After stratification of subjects based on BMI status, it was found that vitamin E and Mg decreased the risk of T2DM only among normal-weight individual. Also, an inverse association was found among dietary vitamin C, dietary Zn and the risk of T2DM in individuals with normal weight but not in overweight and obese individuals; however, the interaction test tended to be significant for these dietary variables. Dietary antioxidants including vitamin E, vitamin C, Zn and Mg when accompanied by healthy weight, may bring benefits to the prevention of T2DM.

School-based health: an area of opportunity to address challenges in management of pediatric obesity and type 2 diabetes.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are increasingly common, chronic, and complex and disproportionally affect systemically under-resourced communities negatively impacted by social determinants of health. The primary goals of management for both conditions are improvement of medical and psychosocial well being and prevention of secondary complications. The advent of pediatric specific multidisciplinary weight management programs, bariatric surgery, and recent FDA approved medications have provided clinicians with tools to improve patient outcomes. However, implementation remains a challenge. RECENT FINDINGS: The Chronic Care Model proposes utilization of community-based interventions to support children and families in managing chronic disease The CDC's Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Model provides a framework for schools to engage in this role. School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs) utilize a child-focused, multidisciplinary approach to support the medical home and overcome barriers to routine primary care, medical screenings and successful care plans for management of chronic disease. SBHCs and school-based programs have proven sustainable and effective in addressing obesity and T2D in youth, however recent studies are limited and more research evaluating impact are needed. SUMMARY: School-based health offers an evidence-based solution to ensuring equitable and comprehensive care for obesity and T2D, particularly among at-risk communities.

Nutrient patterns and risk of diabetes mellitus type 2: a case-control study.

BACKGROUNDS: Although the significance of diet in preventing or managing diabetes complications is highlighted in current literature, there is insufficient evidence regarding the correlation between nutrient patterns and these complications. The objective of this case-control study is to investigate this relationship by analyzing the dietary intake of nutrients in participants with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D). METHODS: A case-control study was conducted at the Tabriz Center of Metabolism and Endocrinology to investigate the relationship between nutrient patterns and type 2 diabetes (T2D). The study enrolled 225 newly diagnosed cases of T2D and 225 controls. The dietary intake of nutrients was assessed using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Principal component analysis using Varimax rotation was used to obtain nutrient patterns. Logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the risk of T2D. RESULTS: The participants' mean (SD) age and BMI were 39.8 (8.8) years and 27.8 (3.6) kg/m2, respectively. The results identified three major nutrient patterns. The first nutrient pattern was characterized by high consumption of sucrose, animal protein, vitamin E, vitamin B1, vitamin B12, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, and potassium. The second nutrient pattern included fiber, plant protein, vitamin D, Riboflavin, Vitamin B5, copper, and Magnesium. The third nutrient pattern was characterized by fiber, plant protein, vitamin A, riboflavin, vitamin C, calcium, and potassium. Individuals in the highest tertile of nutrient pattern 3 (NP3) had a lower risk of T2D compared to those in the lowest tertile after adjusting for confounders. The odds ratio was 0.52 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.30-0.89 and a P_trend of 0.039. CONCLUSION: This study found that conforming to a nutrient pattern consisting of plant protein, vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B2, potassium, and calcium is linked to a lower likelihood of developing T2D.The initial results suggest that following a nutrient pattern that includes these nutrients may reduce the risk of T2D. However, further research is required to confirm the relationship between nutrient patterns and T2D.

Habitual intake of iron, copper, and zinc and the risk of type 2 diabetes in a prospective cohort: The CAVAS (Cardiovascular Disease Association Study).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Unlike iron, evidence of the association between dietary copper and zinc intake and type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk is limited. This study aimed to examine the prospective associations of dietary intake of iron (total, plant-based, and animal-based), copper, and zinc with T2D risk among adults aged ≥40 years. METHODS AND RESULTS: For 16,666 participants, dietary intakes (baseline, cumulative average, and most recent) of iron, copper, and zinc were calculated from repeated food frequency questionnaires; a modified Poisson regression model with a robust error estimator was conducted. In men, positive associations between T2D and baseline dietary intake of Cu and Zn, cumulative average dietary intake of Fe (total and animal-based), Cu and Zn, and most recent dietary intake of Fe (total, plant-based, and animal-based), Cu, and Zn [most recent diet: for total Fe, IRR(95%CI) = 1.93 (1.41-2.64); for plant-based Fe, 1.56 (1.15-2.11); for animal-based Fe, 1.44 (1.09-1.90); for Cu, 3.17 (2.33-4.30); for Zn, 2.18 (1.64-2.89)] were observed, where as in women, there were positive associations of only cumulative average dietary Zn intake and most recent dietary intake of plant-based Fe, Cu, and Zn [most recent diet: for plant-based Fe, 1.30 (1.01-1.68); for Cu, 1.62 (1.27-2.08); for Zn, 2.07 (1.61-2.66)]. CONCLUSION: Dietary intakes of iron (total, plant-based, and animal-based), copper, and zinc may be positively associated with T2D risk. These positive associations are predominantly observed in most recent diet and appear to be stronger compared to baseline and cumulative average diet.

Relationship between trajectories of dietary iron intake and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus: evidence from a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The association between dietary iron intake and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains inconsistent. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between trajectories of dietary iron intake and risk of T2DM. METHODS: This study comprised a total of 61,115 participants without a prior T2DM from the UK Biobank database. We used the group-based trajectory model (GBTM) to identify different dietary iron intake trajectories. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the relationship between trajectories of dietary iron intake and risk of T2DM. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 4.8 years, a total of 677 T2DM events were observed. Four trajectory groups of dietary iron intake were characterized by the GBTM: trajectory group 1 (with a mean dietary iron intake of 10.9 mg/day), 2 (12.3 mg/day), 3 (14.1 mg/day) and 4 (17.6 mg/day). Trajectory group 3 was significantly associated with a 38% decreased risk of T2DM when compared with trajectory group 1 (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.62, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.49-0.79), while group 4 was significantly related with a 30% risk reduction (HR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.54-0.91). Significant effect modifications by obesity (p = 0.04) and history of cardiovascular disease (p < 0.01) were found to the relationship between trajectories of dietary iron intake and the risk of T2DM. CONCLUSIONS: We found that trajectories of dietary iron intake were significantly associated with the risk of T2DM, where the lowest T2DM risk was observed in trajectory group 3 with a mean iron intake of 14.1 mg/day. These findings may highlight the importance of adequate dietary iron intake to the T2DM prevention from a public health perspective. Further studies to assess the relationship between dietary iron intake and risk of T2DM are needed, as well as intervention studies to mitigate the risks of T2DM associated with dietary iron changes.

Effects of whole grains on glycemic control: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials.

PURPOSE: Whole grains have recently been promoted as beneficial to diabetes prevention. However, the evidence for the glycemic benefits of whole grains seems to conflict between the cohort studies and randomized control trials (RCTs). To fill the research gap, we conducted a meta-analysis to determine the effects of whole grains on diabetes prevention and to inform recommendations. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Clarivate Web of Science, and Cochrane Library until March 2024. We used the risk ratio (RR) of type 2 diabetes to represent the clinical outcomes for cohort studies, while the biomarkers, including fasting blood glucose and insulin, HbA1C, and HOMA-IR, were utilized to show outcomes for RCTs. Dose-response relationships between whole grain intakes and outcomes were tested with random effects meta-regression models and restricted cubic splines models. This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42021281639. RESULTS: Ten prospective cohort studies and 37 RCTs were included. Cohort studies suggested a 50 g/day whole grain intake reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes (RR = 0.761, 95% CI: 0.700 to 0.828, I2 = 72.39%, P < 0.001) and indicated a monotonic inverse relationship between whole grains and type 2 diabetes rate. In RCTs, whole grains significantly reduced fasting blood glucose (Mean difference (MD) = -0.103 mmol/L, 95% CI: -0.178 to -0.028; I2 = 72.99%, P < 0.01) and had modest effects on HbA1C (MD = -0.662 mmol/mol (-0.06%), 95% CI: -1.335 to 0.010; I2 = 64.55%, P = 0.05) and HOMA-IR (MD = -0.164, 95% CI: -0.342 to 0.013; I2 = 33.38%, P = 0.07). The intake of whole grains and FBG, HbA1C, and HOMA-IR were significantly dose-dependent. The restricted spline curves remained flat up to 150 g/day and decreased afterward. Subgroup analysis showed that interventions with multiple whole-grain types were more effective than those with a single type. CONCLUSION: Our study findings suggest that a daily intake of more than 150 g of whole grain ingredients is recommended as a population approach for diabetes prevention.

Knowledge, perceptions and practices towards diabetes risk in sub-Saharan Africa: a mixed-methods scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: To synthesise current evidence on knowledge, perceptions and practices towards type 2 diabetes risk in sub-Saharan Africa. DESIGN: Mixed-methods scoping review, which included 101 studies (seventy-three quantitative, twenty qualitative and eight mixed methods) from seven electronic databases. SETTING: Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000-2023. PARTICIPANTS: Men and women without diabetes with mean ages ranging from 20 to 63 years. RESULTS: The majority of participants in most studies knew the three main diabetes modifiable risk factors - excess weight, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity. However, most people with excess weight in almost all studies underestimated their weight. Further, the self-described ideal body weight was between midpoint of normal weight and the upper limits of overweight in most quantitative studies and was described as not too skinny but not too fat in qualitative studies. In the majority of studies, participants reported low engagement in weight control, high regular sugar intake, and low regular fruit and vegetable intake but moderate to high engagement in physical activity. Barriers to reducing diabetes risk were social (e.g. societal perceptions promoting weight gain) and environmental (e.g. limited affordability of healthy foods, high accessibility of Western diets and lack of physical activity facilities). CONCLUSION: There is a need for multicomponent type 2 diabetes prevention interventions that increase knowledge of identifying diabetes risk (e.g. what constitutes excess weight) and create social and physical environments that support healthy lifestyles (e.g. societal perceptions that promote healthy living, increased availability and affordability of healthy foods and physical activity facilities).

Participatory development of an mHealth intervention delivered in general practice to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour of patients with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes (ENERGISED).

BACKGROUND: The escalating global prevalence of type 2 diabetes and prediabetes presents a major public health challenge. Physical activity plays a critical role in managing (pre)diabetes; however, adherence to physical activity recommendations remains low. The ENERGISED trial was designed to address these challenges by integrating mHealth tools into the routine practice of general practitioners, aiming for a significant, scalable impact in (pre)diabetes patient care through increased physical activity and reduced sedentary behaviour. METHODS: The mHealth intervention for the ENERGISED trial was developed according to the mHealth development and evaluation framework, which includes the active participation of (pre)diabetes patients. This iterative process encompasses four sequential phases: (a) conceptualisation to identify key aspects of the intervention; (b) formative research including two focus groups with (pre)diabetes patients (n = 14) to tailor the intervention to the needs and preferences of the target population; (c) pre-testing using think-aloud patient interviews (n = 7) to optimise the intervention components; and (d) piloting (n = 10) to refine the intervention to its final form. RESULTS: The final intervention comprises six types of text messages, each embodying different behaviour change techniques. Some of the messages, such as those providing interim reviews of the patients' weekly step goal or feedback on their weekly performance, are delivered at fixed times of the week. Others are triggered just in time by specific physical behaviour events as detected by the Fitbit activity tracker: for example, prompts to increase walking pace are triggered after 5 min of continuous walking; and prompts to interrupt sitting following 30 min of uninterrupted sitting. For patients without a smartphone or reliable internet connection, the intervention is adapted to ensure inclusivity. Patients receive on average three to six messages per week for 12 months. During the first six months, the text messaging is supplemented with monthly phone counselling to enable personalisation of the intervention, assistance with technical issues, and enhancement of adherence. CONCLUSIONS: The participatory development of the ENERGISED mHealth intervention, incorporating just-in-time prompts, has the potential to significantly enhance the capacity of general practitioners for personalised behavioural counselling on physical activity in (pre)diabetes patients, with implications for broader applications in primary care.