International trials of Novartis AG’s blood pressure pill Diovan and diabetes drug Starlix show, which they neither prevent heart attacks, strokes or deaths in high-risk patients, nor the development of heart disease or diabetes, respectively.

These results only serve to highlight the difficulty in finding drugs for preventing both heart disease and diabetes. Which is why, researchers recommend preventing and treating two of the most common chronic medical conditions, by focusing on exercise, eating a healthy diet, two proven methods for better health.

The study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s annual meeting in Atlanta today, has also been published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

According to public health surveys, over 20 million Americans and 171 million people worldwide have diabetes, numbers the World Health Organisation expects to increase to 366 million by 2030. Currently, 3 million people die from the disease each year, mainly from heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular complications.

Despite the slightly positive results from Diovan’s portion of the trial, lifestyle remains the key factor in preventing obesity and poor blood sugar control from developing into diabetes.

The trial conducted at 806 centres across 40 countries had participants diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, including known risk factors, such as, obesity and impaired ability to metabolize sugar.

Divided into groups, some were given Diovan, Starlix or a placebo. All participated in a lifestyle modification programme aimed at weight reduction and dietary fat intake, while increasing physical activity.

A growing medical problem worldwide, there is a need to develop therapies to prevent the development of diabetes via lifestyle changes, such as, eating less and exercising more, which have been found to be equally effective preventative measures as metformin, a leading diabetes treatment drug, in use for decades.