Pedometer Cuts Type 2 Diabetes Risk by Half

A new study using a pedometer as part of a structured education program reduced the chances of Type 2 diabetes by more than 50% in those at risk of developing the condition, reveals a new study. By using a device that costs less than $20 you can prevent a disease that can cost up to $12,000 + a year and can extend your quality of life.

Ninety-eight people with prediabetes — a precursor to Type 2 diabetes where there are raised blood glucose (sugar) levels — took part in the study to assess the effectiveness of the Prediabetes Risk Education and Physical Activity Recommendation and Encouragement (PREPARE) program to see whether using a pedometer helps people to sustain increased physical activity levels.

PREPARE offers a three hour group education session about prediabetes and the role of a healthy lifestyle in preventing Type 2 diabetes. For the study, a control group was given only a brief information leaflet, another group took part in the education session and another was given both the education session and a pedometer. The pedometer group was helped to set personalized ‘steps-per-day’ targets, aimed at achieving at least 30 minutes of walking activity each day. All groups were followed up after three, six and 12 months.

Blood glucose levels, which were tested after participants ingested a standardized amount of sugar, were reduced by 15% in the pedometer group after a year compared to the control group. This reduction was greater than that reported after one year in the most successful European and American studies of this kind. These studies did not include pedometer use but found that the risk of diabetes was reduced by up to 58% over the longer term. Therefore, the PREPARE researchers claim that if current results are sustained then their study will be at least as successful as this.

Dr. Iain Frame, Research Director at leading health charity Diabetes UK, said, “Prediabetes affects an estimated seven million people in the UK and 60 million people in the US, and puts you at up to fifteen times more risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.”

“By finding new ways to educate and motivate people with prediabetes we are aiming to stop the Type 2 diabetes epidemic in its tracks and prevent millions of people developing serious complications of the condition such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and amputation.”

“This study shows that we can and must take action to prevent Type 2 diabetes, particularly if the benefits can be shown in a larger number of people and over a sustained period of time.”

Lead researcher Dr. Thomas Yates, from the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Leicester, UK, added, “Our study proves that using a pedometer as part of a structured education program can really improve health outcomes for people with prediabetes.”

“Using lifestyle interventions such as PREPARE to stop people developing Type 2 diabetes and its complications could save a fortune…. The impressive results of this study are already being recognized and the program is now being implemented in Primary Care Trusts (PCT’s) in England and Ireland. Longer-term evaluation of its impact continues both in these PCT’s and in the original study participants.”

For more info on a complete pedometer walking program visit www.steps-to-health.org.

Diabetes UK