Walking Aids Diabetics
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Diabetics can cut their risk of dying prematurely by just getting up and walking, report researchers in this month's Archives of Internal Medicine.
Their study finds those who walked at least two hours a week had nearly a 40 percent reduction in death from all causes.
Many studies have shown the health benefits of regular physical exercise, including a reduction in the risk of developing diabetes in the first place, but little research has been done on the effect of exercise on people who already have the disease. In this study, investigators from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at nearly 3,000 adults with diabetes. All were questioned about their exercise habits through surveys administered in the community. Participants were followed for eight years.
When compared with individuals who did not exercise, those who reported at least two hours a week of walking had a 39-percent lower death rate overall and a 34-percent lower death rate from cardiovascular causes. Even better results were seen for those who walked three to four hours a week (up to a 54-percent reduction in overall death rates) and those who reported moderate increases in heart and breathing rates during their walks. These findings held true even after researchers adjusted the results to account for other factors that could increase the likelihood of dying, such as age, body mass index, and having other medical conditions.
The authors conclude, "Overall, these findings support current recommendations that brisk walking on a regular basis is a key health behavior for persons with type 2 diabetes."
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SOURCE: Archives of Internal Medicine, 2003;163:1440-1447
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