New Thinking About Type 2 Diabetes
By Andrew Appleton | February 10, 2023
Every guideline written about treating type 2 diabetes recommends “diet & lifestyle” management first. Yet, most clinic visits result in a new prescription, rather than a meal plan or exercise program. Why? Because lifestyle modification is hard. Taking a medication is easy (and less time-consuming to prescribe for busy doctors). Having had hundreds of conversations with patients about diet and exercise (not to mention sleep and stress) I understand how challenging it is to create positive change. I have concluded there is one key ingredient missing; coaching.
If every clinic visit was followed by an ongoing relationship with a health coach or accountability partner, who can help implement lifestyle plans and address individual nuances, we would be far more successful.
This is exactly what I discussed with Dr. Sonja Reichert, a London-based physician and researcher overseeing a new study called LIBERATE. Her group is using continuous glucose monitoring, fitness tracking, and health coaching to treat type 2 diabetes.