Evidence base for the Life! program

Life! Taking Action on Diabetes is an evidence based, behaviour change program that will enable 25 000 Victorians over 50 years of age and at high risk to substantially delay or prevent the development of type 2 diabetes.

Detailed studies in America, Finland and China have consistently shown that programs which actively support behavioural change (improved nutrition and physical activity) in people with pre-diabetes, can prevent more than half of the expected progression to type 2 diabetes. Based on the success rate of 58% reduced risk experienced in Finland and America, Life! has the potential to prevent up to 12,000 cases of type 2 diabetes over four years.

The intervention centres on the AUSDRISK test; a simple, non-invasive, and reliable tool to identify individuals at high risk for type 2 diabetes . The tool shows that for scores of 15-20 approximately one person in every seven develops type 2 diabetes within five years, and for scores of more than 20 approximately one person in every three develops type 2 diabetes within five years. Therefore, patients with a score of 15 or more are at high risk of type 2 diabetes and eligible for referral into a Life! course.

Four year results from the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study [pdf 1.1 MB]

Results from the Warrnambool Diabetes Prevention Study (Greater Green Triangle) [pdf 260 KB]

Prevention of type 2 diabetes melitus by changes in lifestyle among subjects with impaired glucose tolerance [pdf 160 KB]

Type 2 Diabetes Prevention in the “Real World” [pdf 88 KB]