Why Being Active is Crucial in Fighting Type 2 Diabetes
The latest research by the University of Sydney has found that even people with a high genetic risk for developing type 2 diabetes can reduce their risk by being active. The study analyzed data from 59,325 UK Biobank participants who wore accelerometers at the start of the study and were then tracked for seven years to monitor health outcomes. The results showed that higher levels of total physical activity, especially moderate to vigorous-intensity activity, were strongly associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Participants with more than an hour of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity per day had a 74 percent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those who did less than five minutes of physical activity. The findings were reported in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
The researchers say that this study demonstrates the importance of promoting higher levels of physical activity as an effective strategy for preventing type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a significant public health issue, with 537 million adults living with diabetes worldwide in 2021. These findings have strong personal significance for Associate Professor Melody Ding, whose family has a history of type 2 diabetes.
Moderate and Vigorous Activities That Help Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
Moderate-intensity physical activity includes brisk walking and general gardening, while running, aerobic dancing, bicycling uphill, or at a fast pace, and heavy yard work such as digging are examples of vigorous-intensity physical activity. The research found that both moderate and vigorous activities positively affect reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, irrespective of genetic risk.
Benefits of Physical Activity
Apart from reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, regular physical activity also has numerous other benefits for maintaining physical and mental health. Some of these benefits include:
– Improved cardiovascular and respiratory function
– Increased bone density and muscle strength
– Reduced risk of various cancers, depression, and anxiety
– Better sleep, digestion, and cognitive function
Public Health Implications of the Research
The study’s findings can inform public health and clinical guidelines to aid chronic disease prevention, especially for healthcare professionals, organizations, and the general public. They can also motivate people with a family history of type 2 diabetes to become more active and maintain an active lifestyle.
Additional Piece: How Physical Activity Helps Prevent and Manage Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a non-communicable disease characterized by high blood glucose levels that affect more than 463 million people globally. It is caused by the body’s inability to produce enough insulin or use it effectively, leading to glucose buildup in the bloodstream and other organs. While physical activity is not a cure for diabetes, research has shown that it can help prevent or manage the disease.
Physical activity enhances the uptake of glucose by muscles and improves insulin sensitivity, reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It also helps control blood glucose levels in people with diabetes by increasing glucose uptake by muscles, even without insulin. In addition, regular physical activity can improve blood lipid profiles, reduce blood pressure, and prevent obesity, which are all risk factors for type 2 diabetes.
The type, duration, and intensity of physical activity needed to prevent type 2 diabetes depend on many factors, including age, sex, weight, and genetics. However, moderate- to vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise for at least 150 minutes per week is recommended. Resistance training, flexibility exercises, and leisure activities such as dancing, swimming, cycling, and walking can also help.
Apart from physical activity, maintaining a healthy diet and weight, getting enough sleep, and managing stress can also help prevent and manage type 2 diabetes. Combining these lifestyle changes and adhering to medication and treatment plans can significantly reduce the risk of complications and improve health outcomes for people with diabetes.
In conclusion, being active is a crucial strategy for preventing and managing type 2 diabetes, even for people with a high genetic risk of developing the disease. It has numerous physical and mental health benefits that can enhance one’s overall quality of life. Healthcare professionals can use these findings to educate their patients on the importance of physical activity in preventing and managing diabetes and other chronic diseases.
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New research has revealed that being active could reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, even in people with a high genetic risk of developing the medical condition.
The study led by the University of Sydney found that higher levels of total physical activity, especially physical activity of moderate to vigorous intensity, had a strong association with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The findings were published in the british journal of sports medicine.
The researchers say the study demonstrates that higher levels of physical activity should be promoted as an important strategy for the prevention of type 2 diabetes, which affects millions of Australians.
The study involved 59,325 adults from the UK Biobank,who wore accelerometers (activity trackers worn on the wrist) at the start of the study and were then followed for seven years to track health outcomes.
The UK Biobank is a large-scale biomedical database and research resource containing anonymized health, lifestyle and genetic information on half a million UK participants.
This included genetic markers associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. People with a high genetic risk score had a 2.4 times increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared with those with a low genetic risk score.
The study showed that more than an hour of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity per day was associated with a 74 percent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared with participants who did less than 5 minutes of physical activity,
This was even when other factors, including genetic risk, were taken into account.
Another compelling finding was that participants with high genetic risk but in the most physically active category actually had a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those with low genetic risk but in the least active category. .
Lead author, Associate Professor Melody Ding from the Charles Perkins Center and School of Medicine and Health, says that although the role of genetics and physical activity in the onset of type 2 diabetes is well established, until now most data were self-reported and there was little evidence whether genetic risk could be offset by physical activity.
“We can’t control our genetic risk and family history, but this finding provides promising and positive news that through an active lifestyle, one can ‘fight’ much of the excess risk of type 2 diabetes.”
Associate Professor Ding says that moderate-intensity physical activity describes movements that make you sweat and get a little out of breath, such as brisk walking and general gardening.
Examples of vigorous-intensity physical activity include running, aerobic dancing, bicycling uphill or at a fast pace, and heavy yard work such as digging—all activities that make you out of breath or make you wheeze.
Study to help inform public health guidelines
Diabetes is a global public health problem. In 2021, there were 537 million adults living with diabetes worldwide. Almost 1.2 million Australians were recorded to be living with type 2 diabetes in 2020.
The findings also have strong personal significance for Associate Professor Ding, whose father was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in his late sixties.
“My father’s side of the family has a history of type 2 diabetes, so the study result is extremely encouraging for me and my family. As I am already an active person, I now have additional motivation to maintain this style of active life,” says Associate. Professor Ding.
“Our hope is that this study will inform public health and clinical guidelines so that it can aid chronic disease prevention for healthcare professionals, organizations, and the public.”
“I’m delighted to share the results of our research with a wide audience so that people know that physical activity improves health, especially for people at high genetic risk. Whether you have a family history of type 2 diabetes, or even if you don’t.” t, today is the day to start being physically active,” says PhD candidate Mengyun (Susan) Luo, who led the study.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/06/230605181250.htm
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