Comprehensive Health Model Provides Prediabetes Reversal

A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study revealed 86 million Americans suffer from prediabetes, a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and nearly half of prediabetic patients were reported to develop frank diabetes.

Saturday, March 14 at the American College of Cardiology meeting, Mariam Kashani, DNP, chief scientific director at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, shared the results of her team’s study examining the impact of a multicomponent intervention on CVD risk of individuals afflicted with prediabetes who successfully reversed their disease without emphasizing weight loss.

The test subjects and data were acquired from the Integrative Cardiac Health Project Registry, a 12-month CVD Risk Reduction Program focusing primarily on nutrition, exercise, stress, and sleep improvement.

Researchers observed a total of 508 patients who received a cardiovascular health assessment and personalized health recommendations. Hey were suggested to attend 14 personalized coaching sessions, either in-person or over the phone.

Upon completing the validated questionnaires, the individuals were categorized as either prediabetics (glucose > 100 mg/dL and < 140 mg/dL) or reverting prediabetes (glucose < 100 mg/dL). Diabetics were excluded from the analysis. Differences were analyzed using t-test.

Of 508 subjects (56% women, mean age 53 ± 13.5 years, 61% White, 22% Black, 5% Hispanic), 107 (21%) had prediabetes with mean HgA1C 5.9% and mean glucose 108.1 mg/dL. Of prediabetics, 52 (49%) reverted to normal glucose values.

Kashani firmly believed this novel health program could help individuals with prediabetes revert to normal glucose metabolism without considerable changes in BMI, as the practical lifestyle intervention works to improve overall health in this vulnerable population.