UMass: over half of T2D preventable

A UMass Amherst-led study published May 19 said healthier lifestyles could prevent more than half of new type 2 diabetes cases, including among people with elevated genetic risk. The research, published in the journal *Diabetes*, analyzed 332,251 adults in the U.K. Biobank and followed them for a median of nearly 14 years. Researchers said the results suggest lifestyle factors had a larger effect on diabetes risk than inherited predisposition in this cohort. Cassandra Spracklen, a UMass Amherst associate professor of epidemiology and the study’s senior author, said high genetic risk was “not a foregone conclusion” for developing the disease. ### How did the researchers measure “preventable”? The paper estimated that more than 55% of new type 2 diabetes cases could theoretically be prevented if people with less healthy lifestyles improved those behaviors. That figure came from comparing diabetes incidence across lifestyle categories while accounting for genetic risk, according to the UMass Amherst release and the journal abstract. (umass.edu) The study did not say every case can be avoided or test a single intervention program. Instead, it modeled how much disease burden might be reduced if people moved from less healthy to healthier patterns of behavior, the authors said. ### What counted as a “healthy lifestyle” in the study? Researchers classified lifestyle using four factors based on American Heart Association guidance: smoking status, body mass index, physical activity and diet. (umass.edu) People with at least three healthy factors were placed in the healthy lifestyle group, according to the study summary and journal listing. Chi “Josh” Zhao, a doctoral student in epidemiology at UMass Amherst and the study’s first author, said lifestyle choices had “a substantially larger impact on diabetes risk” than genetic predisposition. He said the findings show people can reduce risk through healthier behaviors regardless of genetic background. (umass.edu) ### How strong was lifestyle compared with genetics? Participants with the least healthy lifestyles were nearly seven times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those with the healthiest habits, the UMass Amherst release said. By comparison, people in the highest genetic-risk group had a 2.6-fold higher risk than those in the lowest genetic-risk group. (umass.edu) The researchers calculated genetic risk using 783 known diabetes-related variants and grouped participants into tertiles, according to the paper record and university release. Across all levels of genetic risk, people with healthier lifestyles had lower diabetes rates than those with poorer habits, the authors said. (umass.edu) ### Who was studied, and what are the limits? The cohort included 332,251 U.K. Biobank participants without diabetes at baseline, according to the journal record. During follow-up of nearly 14 years, about 4% developed type 2 diabetes. The findings were drawn from an observational analysis rather than a randomized trial, meaning the study measured associations between lifestyle patterns, genetic risk and later disease. (umass.edu) The paper was published as “Associations of Combined Genetic and Lifestyle Risks With Incident Type 2 Diabetes” in the May 2026 issue of *Diabetes*. ### Who led the work, and where can readers find it? UMass Amherst identified Spracklen as senior author and Zhao as first author of the study. The author list also includes researchers from institutions including the Broad Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, the University of Cambridge and the University of Tokyo, according to the journal record. (diabetesjournals.org) The article is available through the American Diabetes Association’s journal site under DOI 10.2337/db25-0672, and UMass Amherst published its release on May 19, 2026. WWLP reported the findings on May 20, 2026, citing the university’s materials. (diabetesjournals.org) (umass.edu)