Author

Melissa Carapetis, BHSc, MND Dietitian Diabetes Centre The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Woodville South South Australia Patrick Phillips, MBBS, MA (Oxon), FRACP, MRACMA GradDipHealthEcon Senior Director of Endocrinology The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Woodville South South Australiah Centre, Ribia

Background
Lifestyle management is the basis of diabetes treatment. In most cases, healthy eating, activity and weight loss can result in significant improvements in blood glucose, lipids and overall health. General practitioners have a key role in encouraging and supporting patients with diabetes to make lifestyle changes.

Objective
This article outlines the general lifestyle nutritional recommendations of type 2 diabetes and provides practical ideas for GPs to help patients achieve lifestyle goals.

Discussion
Although lifestyle is the cornerstone of diabetes management, it is the most difficult part of management to implement. Adherence to recommended eating and activity schedules is low. A complete dietary assessment requires input from a dietitian and support from the GP.

Healthy eating and activity schedules are the basis of diabetes management. In most cases, healthy eating and activity are associated with weight loss and significant improvements in control of blood glucose, lipids, blood pressure and improved quality of life.

It is now clear that lifestyle change can slow the progression from normal to impaired glucose tolerance and then to clinical diabetes. The primary lifestyle goals for type 2 diabetes are simple – ‘eat less, walk more’.

Although simple they will help patients achieve targets for weight loss, glycaemic, blood pressure and lipid control. The overall goal is to shift from the unhealthy eating patterns which are the norm for Australians, to those recommended (Figure 1).