Table 1 Inclusion and exclusion criteria for the SLIMMER study

Inclusion criteria

Age 40 through 70 years

Impaired fasting glucose (IFG; i.e. fasting plasma glucose concentration 6.1-6.9 mmol/l [24]) in the past 5 years according to the patient registration database, OR risk score ≥7 points based on the Dutch Diabetes Risk Test [25]

Willing and able to participate in the study for at least 1.5 years

Able to speak and understand the Dutch language

Exclusion criteria

Known diabetes mellitus

Any chronic illness that makes 1.5-years survival improbable, interferes with glucose tolerance, or makes participation in a lifestyle intervention impossible

Any severe cardiovascular disease (including history of cardiac dysrhythmia), unless general practitioner gives agreement

Medication known to interfere with glucose tolerance (mainly systemic glucocorticoids and pituitary gland/hypothalamus hormones)

Any mental or physical disability that will hinder participation in a lifestyle intervention

Severe psychiatric disease

Patients showing bad compliance in the past

Participation in another regular vigorous exercise and/or dietary programme, i.e.:

- Intensive physical activity programme: any physical activity programme offered by a physiotherapist and/or patients sporting at least three times a week at own initiative

- Intensive dietary programme: patients who visited a dietician at least three times during the last year

Patients who participated in the SLIMMER pilot study