You might be wondering if lifestyle changes — like losing excess weight, exercising, and following a specific meal plan — really help control blood sugar. Read on and decide for yourself.

Medical researchers are able to learn about certain conditions by studying groups of people who tend to get a certain disease more often than the general population.

The example of the Pima Indians has taught us much about type 2 diabetes and, most significantly, has confirmed that lifestyle changes can make a huge difference in controlling the disease. Today an astonishing 50% of the Pima population is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, many at a very young age. Researchers from the National Institutes of Health studied more than 90% of the Pima population to learn about their past and present lifestyle.

The bottom line? Lifestyle is indeed a very important factor in the development of type 2 diabetes.

The Pima
The story of the Pima is about different cultures coming together, resulting in radical lifestyle changes. As the Pima integrated with Western society, their diet changed from the high-fiber, complex-carbohydrate diet of a hunter-gatherer society to a typical high-fat, low-fiber Western diet.

Not only did their diet change significantly, but their level of physical activity did, too. Starting 100 years ago, they moved from performing hard physical labor to a more sedentary lifestyle. The combination of diet and activity changes greatly increased their risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Comparing Percentages
Nearly 95% of the Pima population who have type 2 diabetes are overweight. In addition, the Pima develop the disease at a much younger age than the general population. The average age of Pima diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is just 36 years old. In comparison, the average age of diabetes onset in Caucasians is 60 years old.

Researchers from the National Institutes of Health have developed advanced, comprehensive programs for the Pima to help reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes and, if they do develop it, programs to improve their blood sugar management.