Issue 163 Item 5 Regular Walking Decreases Morbidity Rates by 50% in Diabetics

Walking just 30-45 minutes a day reduces Mortality by 50%!

Walking for at least two hours per week appears to lower the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality by 34 to 39%, according to the findings of a large prospective cohort study.

Walking is known to reduce the incidence of diabetes, but few studies have examined whether it reduces mortality among those who already have diabetes.

Edward W. Gregg, PhD, with the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States, and colleagues conducted a study of 2896 adults, aged 18 years and older with diabetes, who formed a representative sample of the US population.

Over an 8-year period, those who walked at least 2 hours per week had a 39% lower all-cause mortality rate and a 34% lower CVD mortality rate compared with inactive individuals, they found.

The mortality rates were lowest for persons who walked 3 to 4 hours per week and for those who reported that their walking involved moderate increases in heart and breathing rates. These individuals obtained more than a 50% decrease in mortality rate.

They note that 1 death per year may be preventable for every 61 people who could be persuaded to walk at least 2 hours per week.

"The protective association of physical activity was observed for persons of varying sex, age, race, body mass index, diabetes duration, comorbid conditions, and physical limitations," the researchers report.

According to the Dr. Gregg and colleagues, exercise could lengthen the life of people with diabetes in several ways, including by influencing lipoprotein cholesterol levels, decreasing blood pressure and insulin levels, and increasing cardiorespiratory fitness.

"Overall the findings support current recommendations that brisk walking on a regular basis is a key health behavior for persons with type 2 diabetes," they conclude. Arch Intern Med 2003;163:1440-1447.

See the Results of the Diabetes In Control STEPS TO HEALTH STUDY! Step Program