An increasing proportion of Sweden's population comprises non-European immigrants, who constitute a high risk-population for T2D. Numbering almost 9,000 individuals, Iraqi citizens represent the largest immigrant group in Malmoe and are identified as a risk group for Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) in whom genetic and lifestyle factors probably play significant roles in the development of T2D.

Several studies have shown that adoption of an active lifestyle by at-risk individuals dramatically reduces the risk of T2D. However, there are currently no established methods for providing support to high-risk individuals from different cultural and social backgrounds to help them adopt beneficial lasting lifestyle changes. Instead of just waiting for Iraqi high-risk individuals to develop T2D, this project will implement and assess lifestyle intervention programs aimed at reducing the risk of developing T2D and tailored to individuals with a different social and cultural background.

The study thus seeks to optimize preventive action in health care and aims to facilitate the adoption of permanent changes in lifestyle in high-risk patients, taking account of cultural and social barriers.

Since T2D is associated with a sedentary lifestyle and develops earlier in men than women and an average 10 years earlier in immigrants from the Middle East than in native Swedes, it is crucial to study pathogenic mechanisms triggering T2D development in relation to sex, lifestyle and ethnic background. The results will provide the basis for deciding how health care providers can actively work to prevent T2D and other lifestyle-associated diseases in this high-risk population that has not been studied before.

In this randomized controlled trial, 308 participants (born in Iraq, living in Malmö, Sweden and at high risk of type 2 diabetes) will be allocated to either a culturally adapted intervention or a control group. The intervention will consist of 10 group counseling sessions focusing on diet, physical activity and behavioral change over 6 months, and the offer of exercise sessions. Cultural adaptation includes gender-specific exercise sessions, and counseling by a health coach community member. The control group will receive the information about healthy lifestyle habits provided by the primary health care center. The primary outcome is change in fasting glucose level. Secondary outcomes are changes in body mass index, insulin sensitivity,physical activity, food habits and health-related quality of life. Measurements will be taken at baseline, after 3 and 6 months. Data will be analyzed by the intention-to-treat approach. The cost-effectiveness during the trial period and over the longer term will be assessed by simulation modeling from patient, health care and societal perspectives.

Inclusion Criteria:

• (1) 30 to 75 years of age
• (2) individuals in the baseline survey diagnosed with prediabetes. OR BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2 OR waist >=80 cm in females and >=94cm in males.

Exclusion Criteria:

• pregnancy, severe mental illness, diabetes, and/or cognitive impairment, current CVD or history of CVD events. CVD includes stroke, angina or myocardial infarction (MI), percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), congestive heart failure (CHF), coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), transient ischemic attack (TIA) and peripheral vascular disease (PVD) or other physical disorders that prevent physical exercise.