Diabetes Dateline
Fall 2006

Research News

Weight Loss Improves Bladder Control in Women With Pre-diabetes

Losing weight not only helps women with pre-diabetes stave off type 2 diabetes, it also improves bladder control, according to study results from the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), a landmark clinical study funded by the National Institutes of Health.

The DPP randomly assigned 660 women with pre-diabetes to intensive lifestyle changes—stepped-up physical activity and dietary improvements—636 to metformin treatment, and 661 to a placebo. Women in the first group, who made the lifestyle changes and lost 5 to 7 percent of their body weight, had fewer episodes of weekly incontinence than those taking metformin or a placebo. While the weight loss reduced stress incontinence—urine leakage triggered by coughing, sneezing, or exercising—it failed to relieve urge incontinence—unexpected urine leakage.

Overweight women and women with type 2 diabetes have a 50 to 70 percent increased risk of incontinence. One in three women with diabetes or pre-diabetes reports having urinary incontinence once a week or more. For information about NIDDK-funded research on urinary incontinence, visit www.uitn.net. For more data from the DPP, which found that losing weight through diet and exercise could reduce the onset of type 2 diabetes by 58 percent, go to www.niddkrepository.org. Visit www.kidney.niddk.nih.gov to read or download a copy of the NIDDK’s fact sheets on urinary incontinence.

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NIH Publication No. 07–4562
December 2006