"To reduce the risk of diabetes, reduce calorie intake with an aim to reduce weight by 5 to 10 percent and increase physical activity to at least 30 minutes at least five days a week," Buse advised. "That reduces diabetes risk by about 60 percent over three years."
For her part, Dr. Tara Narula, associate director of cardiac care at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said, "People are always looking for a one-stop, easy cure-all supplement or quick fix, but the things that work require work."
While these supplements may not stack up, moderate alcohol consumption may have some health benefit, Narula said. "If you are going to drink, red wine is the one that I recommend because there is a potential benefit from compounds in the wine itself," she added.
That's good advice, said Dr. Howard Weintraub, a cardiologist at NYU Langone Medical Center. "There are benefits within the wine that extend beyond the resveratrol, and part of it may be because alcohol helps improve good cholesterol," he said. "If you enjoy red wine, a glass or two a day may be beneficial." But, he cautioned, just because a glass or two can be good for you doesn't mean that more is better.
More information
Concerned about your risk for diabetes? Get the facts on prevention at the American Diabetes Association.
SOURCES: Tara Narula, M.D., associate director, cardiac care, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City; Howard Weintraub, M.D., cardiologist, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York City; Vivian Fonseca, M.D., president, medicine and science, American Diabetes Association; John Buse, M.D., professor, medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.; Nov. 28, 2012, Diabetes, online
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