A comprehensive lifestyle intervention for stroke survivors

More than 7 million U.S. adults are stroke survivors (Virani et al., 2020), and the prevalence of diabetes or abnormal glucose metabolism is an estimated 80% (Ivey et al., 2006). Stroke survivors need prevention or delay of Type 2 diabetes and secondary stroke prevention, which could be delivered through clinical or community-based programs. In their clinical guidelines on lifestyle management of diabetes risk, the American Heart Association (Kleindorfer et al., 2021) and The Obesity Society (Jensen et al., 2014) have recommended 150 minutes of weekly physical activity, and a healthy diet designed to lose weight and increase cardiovascular function. They recommend using behavioral strategies for lasting change, and completing a minimum of 14 intervention sessions (behaviorally oriented, psycho-educational sessions in a group or individual setting) during a period greater than or equal to 6 months.