The Journal of American Medical Association states that “Managing diet is the key to treating all common lipid disorders. For most patients, dietary intervention should be the first line of therapy (perhaps for 6 to 12 weeks) before introducing medications for high cholesterol.

The New England Journal of Medicine states that “Lifestyle changes and treatment with metformin, a commonly prescribed drug, both reduced the incidence of diabetes in persons at high risk. However, the lifestyle intervention was more effective than metformin.”

Lifestyle changes in diet and exercise, including a 5%–7% maintained weight loss and at least 150 minutes per week of physical activity, can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes for Americans at high risk for the disease.53 Participants in a major clinical trial group exercised at moderate intensity, usually by walking an average of 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, and lowered their intake of fat and calories. Their efforts resulted in a sustained weight loss of about 10 to 15 pounds, reducing their risk of getting diabetes by 58%.

An adult with healthy blood pressure and healthy blood cholesterol levels has a greatly reduced risk for cardiovascular disease. A 12- to 13-point reduction in systolic blood pressure can reduce cardiovascular disease deaths by 25%,54 and a 10% decrease in total cholesterol levels reduces the risk for coronary heart disease by 30%.55

Improved glycemic control benefits people with either type 1 or types 2 diabetes. In general,every percentage point drop in A1c blood test results (e.g., from 8.0% to 7.0%) can reduce the risk of microvascular complications (eye, kidney, and nerve diseases) by 40%