Add a decade with changes to lifestyle, diabetes patients told

LIFESTYLE changes could allow type 2 diabetes sufferers to add a decade to their lives, according to a study.

Those who are obese can expect to live almost four years longer on average if they slim to a healthier weight.

If they also keep their blood sugar under control they could gain almost four years more, say researchers. And substantially cutting blood pressure and levels of bad cholesterol could nearly three more years.

The gains add up to an extra ten years and six months for those who greatly improve all of the above.

The estimates were worked out by a computer algorithm using medical and death records from tens of thousands of people in the US with type 2 diabetes. The results were validated using a small study of 421 aged 51 to 80 with the condition.

Those with type 2 diabetes face a greater risk of dying from heart problems.

Study leader Dr Hui Shao, from the University of Florida, said: ‘People can get exhausted trying to improve their lifestyle when they can’t see the results, but this shows its value.’