Any Exercise Is Right When It Comes To Diabetes

Filed in archive Exercise on October 30, 2006

Cardio, strength training, treadmills, jump ropes, a brisk walk...just WHAT IS the 'right' exercise to fight diabetes? The answer? Any one you want.

For any type of exercise training lasting 12 weeks or longer, the researchers found, hemoglobin A1C levels fell by 0.8 percent. There was some evidence that combining aerobic exercise with resistance training had more of an effect than either type of exercise alone. But more intense exercise programs did not appear to be more effective, possibly because they were more difficult for people to stick with, the researchers note.

The researchers also found that exercise had a stronger effect on people with more severe disease, which they call "a reassuring finding for those prescribing exercise to patients."

The actual cardiovascular risk reduction with exercise for diabetes patients is small, the researchers note. But "one should not include that exercise is not worth the effort," they add, as exercise, diet and medication combined can produce a "moderate or even large" risk reduction.

Now get moving!