Exercise May Delay Aging of People with Type 2 Diabetes
Research has shown that the health of adults suffering from type 2 diabetes deteriorates more quickly than those without the condition. However, a new study indicates that problem can be preventable.
The team of researchers from the Colorado School of Medicine that conducted the study has found that exercise could help delay aging in people suffering from diabetes. The study’s authors said diabetic patients need to take whatever steps they can to stay active. Loss of fitness levels increase the risk that patients will suffer from disability or face an early death.
Fitness levels gradually decline for everyone over the age of 50. However, the problem is more pronounced in diabetic patients. These patients are more likely to have to enter an assisted living facility at an early age.
Lead author Amy Huebschmann said people with type 2 diabetes become less active as the condition worsens. This creates a negative feedback cycle as they become less able to carry on with their daily lives. Many people suffering from the condition lack the energy to participate in activities that involve even a leisure amount of physical activity.
These findings have been concerning to people suffering from type 2 diabetes. However, the new study has found that regular exercise can help slow the rate their cardiovascular systems age. Patients with type 2 diabetes will still age more quickly than those without the condition. However, Huebschmann said it is encouraging that patients can take new steps to reduce the impact.
Huebschmann’s study and others conducted by her peers have found that the benefits of exercise can benefit diabetic patients far more than experts would have expected. Patients can increase their fitness levels by nearly 50% through consistent exercise over the course of three to five months. The authors cautioned that exercise wasn’t sufficient to help them achieve the same fitness levels of people without the condition. However, Huebschmann said the benefits can’t be ignored. She said it is encouraging that patients can take steps to take back control of their lives. The study recommends that people with type 2 diabetes exercise for two and a half hours a week.
Huebschmann hopes that many people take advantage of the findings and lead more active lifestyles. However, she is skeptical that everyone suffering from the condition will start exercising regularly. Many of the patients reviewed in the study said that their doctors told them to exercise regularly but they chose not to take that advice. She said there is a marked difference between what patients are told to do and what they actually do to take control of their lives. Nevertheless, the study is encouraging for patients who are committed to taking charge of their lives and focusing on improving their long-term health.
