Type 1 Diabetics Should Exercise to Avoid Cardiovascular Disease

Filed in archive Exercise , Lifestyle , Research on July 30, 2007

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in people with diabetes. In those with type 1 diabetes as young as 20-39 years old, the risk of dying from a cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events are five times higher than those without diabetes.

This population group benefits more from exercise than an average person does.

Type 1 diabetics who exercise regularly reduces his/her risk for cardiovascular disease -according to a new study published in the August edition of Diabetes Care.

Researchers in Austria and Germany studied more than 23,000 youngsters between the ages of 3 and 18, and found that the more physically active youngsters were less at risk for high diastolic blood pressure and lipid profiles, and had lower blood glucose levels.

They specifically found that the more the youngsters physically exercised, their triglycerides and high cholesterol decreased from 41.2 percent for youngsters who did not exercise, to 36 percent to those who exercised once or twice a week. Additionally, it was found that their high cholesterol and triglycerides fell to 34.4 percent for those whose physically exercised three or more times weekly.

Physical exercise did not include school sports; it included regularly exercising for a period of 30 minutes per day.

30 minutes of daily exercise. Keep that in mind.

Read the full report.