Fewer deaths over 30 years
- Published in
- Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2019
- People studied
- 577
In a Chinese trial of 577 adults with raised blood sugar, 6 years of diet and exercise programmes went with a 26% lower risk of death over 30 years. They also went with about 1.4 years longer life.
- Checked against
- PubMed 31036503
- Published in
- Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2019
- Last checked
- 30 October 2026
Key takeaway
The Da Qing study in China started in 1986. It randomly assigned 33 clinics, caring for 577 adults with impaired glucose tolerance (raised blood sugar, a stage before diabetes), to a control group or to 6 years of diet, exercise, or diet plus exercise. Over 30 years, being in a programme group went with type 2 diabetes starting about 4 years later. It also went with a 26% lower risk of heart and blood vessel events and of death from any cause, and about 1.4 years longer life on average.
At a glance
- Type of study
- 30-year follow-up of a trial in which whole clinics were assigned to a group (Da Qing)
- People studied
- 577
- How long
- 6-year programme, followed for up to 30 years
- Compared with
- people at control clinics
- Main result
- 26% lower risk of death and about 1.4 years longer life.
- Strength of evidence
- Randomised trials
What this study does not show
The abstract gives no weight change, so this shows what diet and exercise programmes went with, not weight loss as such. Clinics, not individual people, were randomly assigned, and all participants were Chinese adults with raised blood sugar. The life gain is an estimate with a wide range (0.2 to 2.7 years).
Results from studies in groups of people, mostly in diet and movement programmes. They cannot be promised to any one person. This information is educational and does not replace a consultation with a doctor.
More on whole body
- Lower risk of deathRandomised trials · Ma et al., BMJ 2017
- Linked with lower risk of some cancersLong-term or observational studies · Luo et al., JNCI Cancer Spectr 2019
- 13 cancer types linked with excess fatLong-term or observational studies · Lauby-Secretan et al., NEJM 2016
- Fewer deaths over 30 yearsRandomised trials · Gong et al., Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2019
- Lower risk of serious kidney diseaseRandomised trials · Look AHEAD Research Group, Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2014
- Stronger in later lifeRandomised trials · Villareal et al., NEJM 2011
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