Back in March of 2005 the results of the Diabetes Prevention Program were released by the American Diabetes Association. This study was conducted nationwide at 25 medical centers and tracked thousands of potential diabetics who were given a lose the fat diabetic diet and exercise plan. Everyone in the study group was pre-diabetic, meaning they all suffered from high blood sugar levels that were higher then normal but not in the diabetic range. Half of all people diagnosed with pre-diabetes will eventually become type 2 diabetics if left untreated.

There were two groups of people is this study. One half of the participants were given only dietary recommendations to follow. The other half were given the same diet but were also asked to exercise 5 times a week for at least 30 minutes per day.

The results of this study were unexpected. Those pre-diabetics who exercised along with following the diabetic diet reduced by 58% their risk of developing diabetes. The reason for this was simple; they lost weight because of these lifestyle changes. Researchers found that exercising and losing weight had the direct effect of lowering blood sugar levels to normal, which wasn't thought to be possible.

It is thought that weight loss for those with pre-diabetes helps prevent the onset of diabetes but it also helps to reverse the damage to insulin producing cells caused by obesity. Depending on how much you weigh it was found that losing 5% to 7% of your body weight can make a difference.

The key to this diet is eating healthy foods that not help the pre-diabetic lose weight but also keep the weight off. The American Diabetes Association recommends a daily diet that consists of the following.

* Grain - 6-11 servings per day (Bread, Cereal, Rice, Pasta)
* Vegetables - 3-5 servings per day
* Fruits - 2-4 servings per day
* Milk - 2-3 servings per day
* Meat - 4-6 ounces per day (Meat, eggs, fish, dried beans, nuts and peanut butter)
* Fats, Sweets, Alcohol - Occasional treats

Not only is this diet recommended for diabetes but it is also endorsed by the American Heart Association to help combat the risks for heart disease. This points out how important it is to eat healthy and follow a fat loss diabetic diet and exercise program.