Lifestyle Interventions for Treatment and Remission of Prediabetes and T2D: There's a Guideline for That?

Yes, there is a clinical practice guideline for that, recently published by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM). Lifestyle interventions for the treatment and remission of type two diabetes and prediabetes in adults is the first clinical guideline, according to authors, that places lifestyle modification at the center of care for adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and prediabetes.^1,2

In an interview with Patient Care, guideline lead author Richard Rosenfeld, MD, MPH, MBA, talked about the timing of the publication of the ACLM recommendations. Although the release in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine¹ was the next step in an iterative development process, the publication is in ideal synch with the state of American's health, Rosenfeld stressed. "Over half the US population has either prediabetes, about 38%, or type 2 diabetes, about 14.5%" and there is a proportion who "don't even know they have it." Add the obesity epidemic into the equation, and "the timing really just seemed right to do this."

Rosenfeld adds that the evidence based to support the essential role of durable lifestyle change in reducing the risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D) and even in reversing the disease, is growing rapidly. He discusses the development of the ACLM guideline in the short video above and the goal of remission of T2D.

For an at-a-glance preview of the 14 lifestyle interventions recommended in the guideline, see Guideline Topline: 14 Key Lifestyle Interventions to Treat, Prevent Type 2 Diabetes.

Richard Rosenfeld, MD, MPH, MBA, is the distinguished professor of otolaryngology, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University and senior advisor for quality and guidelines for the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. Rosenfeld is board certified in otolaryngology – head and neck surgery and in lifestyle medicine.