Type 2 diabetes can run in families, but you don’t have to live with it.
According to a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, middle-aged British residents who exercised moderately or vigorously for at least an hour a day were 74% less likely to be debilitated than sedentary people.
The same was true of people who were genetically predisposed to diseases that tended to run in families.
Furthermore, people who had a higher genetic risk of developing a metabolic disorder but who frequently did intense exercise developed the condition less often than those who had a lower genetic risk but were generally inactive.
Associate Professor Melody Ding said in a research press release from the School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Australia, “We cannot control for genetic risk and family history, but this finding suggests that an active lifestyle can lead to an excess risk of type 2 diabetes. It gives positive news that we can fight the risk.”
Ding’s family suffers from the disease, and her father, now in his 60s, was recently diagnosed with the condition, making her work even more urgent. “I’m already active enough, but this study gives me extra motivation to maintain an active lifestyle,” he said.
How to Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes Through Exercise
Experts recommend physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, to prevent type 2 diabetes, which is a leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke and amputation .
However, the researchers found that 68.4 minutes or more per day was the ‘magic number’ for most study participants. They also found that the intensity of the exercise is also important. How do you know if your exercise is intense enough?
According to Ding, the right exercise should result in sweating and some shortness of breath. Examples include brisk walking, running, aerobic dancing, uphill or fast cycling, and gardening, including digging ponds.
“If you have a family history of type 2 diabetes, or if you don’t, today is a good day to be physically active,” said Mengyun Luo, PhD candidate from the University of Sydney and lead author of the study.
/ Fortune Korea Reporter Kong In-ho ball@fortunekorea.co.kr
