![Preventing Diabetes in Men]()
Men of color in low-income urban neighborhoods face a high risk for developing type 2 diabetes but are less likely to participate in diabetes prevention programs. To better engage them, Elizabeth Walker, Ph.D., R.N., and colleagues launched the first NIH-funded pilot study of a modified diabetes prevention program tailored to these men with prediabetes. In the 16-week “Power Up for Health” program, based on the National Diabetes Prevention Program, 29 middle-aged men agreed to attend weekly sessions with male lifestyle coaches at five New York City recreation centers. The coaches offered the men support, guidance and motivation for choosing healthier diets and increasing exercise, and researchers monitored their weight loss, lifestyle activities and signs of depression. The findings--published online on March 15 in the American Journal of Men’s Health, alongwith two additional reports (report 1 and report 2) of analyses of the program’s design and participants’ feedback--showed that the 23 men who completed the program lost an average of 9.7 pounds and saw improvements in depressive symptoms, diet and exercise. Dr. Walker and colleagues concluded that “Power Up for Health” shows promise for delaying or preventing type 2 diabetes among men at risk for the disease and that further research is needed with a larger sample size of men. Dr. Walker is professor of medicine and of epidemiology & population health, and is director for the pilot and feasibility program of the New York Regional Center for Diabetes Translation Research (CDTR) at Einstein.
Posted on: Friday, April 13, 2018