"A study coordinated by the MUSC Health Weight Management Center shows the scales tipping in Weight Watchers favor instead of standard care when it comes to helping people with Type  diabetes. Patrick ONeil Ph.D. directs the Weight Management Center and led the site study. Results were published November  in the Obesity Journal. While the Weight Management Center has a high success rate at helping patients lose weight to fight diabetes many people with the condition dont live near a specialized program and need help thats readily available. ONeil said because Weight Watchers has centers all over the country including sites in small towns with limited or no medical facilities its program could help meet this need if combined with diabetesspecific counseling.  Thats why he said it was important for MUSC to be involved in the study which was funded by a grant from the commercial weight loss program Weight Watchers. Promoting healthy communities is part of MUSCs mission.  The multisite studys results were statistically and clinically significant ONeil said. The Weight Watchers people were significantly better off than people who received standard care. They achieved better control of their blood sugar and lost more weight he said. They still had diabetes but many were able to reduce the amount of medication they were taking. The studys  participants were all overweight or obese and under a doctors care for uncontrolled Type  diabetes. Half got standard care a session of nutrition counseling with a registered dietitian and written materials. The other half went to Weight Watchers meetings had access to Weight Watchers online materials and had two phone consultations and followup email contact with certified diabetes educators who told them how to modify the Weight Watchers plan to help with their diabetes.  Participants had four followup visits related to the study and continued to see their regular doctors for medical management of their diabetes. After a year people in the Weight Watchers group had an average weight loss of about  percent of their starting weight compared to  percent for the standard care group. The Weight Watchers group also had a bigger improvement in a measure of longterm control of their blood sugar which can reduce the risk for serious problems related to Type  diabetes. Left uncontrolled the condition can damage blood vessels and nerves putting people at risk of having a heart attack or stroke. It can also cause eye problems kidney damage and even lead to amputations.  Risk factors for Type  diabetes include   Being overweight   Not getting enough exercise   Being  or older   Having a family member with Type  diabetes Certain racial and ethnic groups are more at risk including AfricanAmericans and Hispanics. Unlike Type  diabetes which is caused by an immune reaction Type  diabetes develops over the course of years. So incremental improvements such as the ones seen in the MUSCled study are important.  It wasnt a huge overwhelming difference ONeil said. But it was scalable meaning it could be applied to the whole population.  The whole population of people with Type  diabetes includes more than  million Americans. Its by far the more common form of diabetes and can lead to about  in medical costs. Diabetes is a growing problem. ONeil said the rate jumped from about  percent to  percent between  and . Weight loss is seen as a good way to slow its progression.  The MUSC Health Weight Management Center takes a scientific approach to weight loss focusing on changes in activity levels behavior thinking diet and support systems. ONeil said its important to help people not blame them. The Weight Watchers study is new evidence of what that help might include when it comes to a side effect of weight gain Type  diabetes. You do have some power and control he said. You can lose some weight and lower your blood sugar  and may even be able to change your medications. Thats no small feat in treating diabetes."