Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko and physicians emphasise diet and exercise as key strategies to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes, challenging misconceptions and highlighting early detection’s importance.
Russian Health Chief Says Lifestyle Changes Can Delay Type 2 Diabetes
Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said on Thursday that diet and exercise can help prevent a range of illnesses, including type 2 diabetes, and may delay its onset by as much as 5 years. The remark came at the opening of a new healthy longevity medicine centre in Yekaterinburg, according to RIA Novosti. International health agencies such as the World Health Organization, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the NHS say type 2 diabetes risk can be reduced through healthier eating, regular physical activity and avoiding excess weight gain.
His comments were reinforced by Olga Sukhareva, a physician who rejected the common belief that diabetes is confined to people with obesity. She said the condition can also affect people with a normal body weight because insulin function can still break down, including through genetic defects in receptors that affect how the body responds to the hormone. That view is consistent with wider medical guidance, which warns that weight is only one part of the risk picture.
Natalia Mokrysheva, head of Russia’s National Medical Research Centre for Endocrinology, said about 12 million people in Russia have diabetes and roughly half do not know it. Diabetes UK and the NHS both stress that regular check-ups can matter as much as lifestyle changes, because early detection can help people act before blood sugar levels rise further.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
