> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.foodconsumer.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Lifestyle Intervention for Diabetes More Cost-Effective Than Drugs
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/lifestyle_intervention_for_diabetes_0402120642/
- Published: 2012-04-02T19:42:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:20:38.000Z
- Description: A 10-year analysis in Diabetes Care of people at high risk for diabetes found lifestyle changes cut diabetes incidence by 58 percent against 31 percent for metformin, and were cost-effective over the long run, while metformin was only slightly cost-saving.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Lifestyle, Health News, #vivvo-import

Using diet and exercise to tackle type 2 diabetes is more cost-effective than using medications, according to a new study published in *Diabetes Care*. Lifestyle intervention reduced diabetes incidence by 58 percent, compared with 31 percent in the intervention group taking metformin—a drug for diabetes. Not only did lifestyle intervention provide better results, but it was cheaper long-term. The 10-year study of people at high risk for developing diabetes found lifestyle intervention was cost-effective and metformin just slightly cost-saving.

The Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group. The 10-Year Cost-Effectiveness of Lifestyle Intervention or Metformin for Diabetes Prevention: An intent-to-treat analysis of the DPP/DPPOS. *Diabetes Care.* 2012;35:723-730.

For information about nutrition and health, please visit [www.pcrm.org/](http://support.pcrm.org/site/R?i=s8RRX8v3Zs0olOVY4R-wpw&ref=foodconsumer.org).

Breaking Medical News is a service of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine,   
5100 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20016.