Study: Certain Exercises Linked to Lower Women’s Diabetes Risk

admin - February 20, 2014

As if we need another reason to get moving at home or at the gym, a new study shows a correlation between resistance and muscle-strengthening exercises with a lower risk for developing Type 2 diabetes for women.

The study published in the journal PLOS Medicine  followed 99,316 women with ages varying from 36 to 81. At the end of the eight year period for the study, 3,491 women developed Type 2 diabetes. However, women who participated the most in resistance training and lower intensity muscle conditioning had the lowest overall risk of developing diabetes.

Researchers explain that this is caused by an increase in lean body mass from these types of exercises that are associated with lowered diabetes risk, without changing body weight. So, the next time you visit the gym try to incorporate more resistance exercise, yoga, stretching, and toning activities to lower your risk of diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes Prevention

Diabetes affects approximately 25.8 million people in the United States, with estimates that 79 million are pre-diabetic, making it one the fastest growing disease in the country. And while it may not be completely possible to prevent type 2 diabetes, controlling risk factors reduces your chances for developing the disease. Here are some helpful tips for lowering your risk:

• Stop smoking
• Lose weight (if you are overweight or obese)
• Limit your intake of sugary foods
• Eat whole grains in place of processed carbs
• Decrease your intake of red meat
• Avoid saturated and trans fats
• Exercise at least 30 minutes per day

These activities will help to increase the effectiveness of insulin in your body. While genetic factors can affect the likelihood of being diagnosed with diabetes, lifestyle and behavioral factors are what largely attribute to the disease.

We offer screening services to check for type 2 diabetes, and screenings are recommended for anyone who has risk factors, is age 45 and over, or an adult with high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels and should be taken every three years. If you suspect that you have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, take advantage of the power of prevention and schedule a health screening today.

Comments

1. WeGetAroundSD - February 22, 2014 at 2:28 pm

   RT @sunshineret: Women- lower your risk for #Diabetes with these exercise tips: http://t.co/bj7j9mEFRc @Life_Line

2. Diane J Brindley - November 24, 2014 at 8:00 pm

   Question: will these exercises help people who already have type 2 diabetes?
   Question: What are free fatty acids and what foods carry them?

3. Dale - November 25, 2014 at 10:20 am

   Hey! What about the men? Are the exercises the same?

4. Maria - November 25, 2014 at 11:16 am

   Great post! Really good information! Thanks.

4 Responses to “Study: Certain Exercises Linked to Lower Women’s Diabetes Risk”