Short 15-minute walks after each meal reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in older people, reports Diabetes Care.
As a study by Dr. Loretta DiPietro’s team at George Washington University suggests, three 15-minute strolls (after each meal) are as effective as a single 45-minute walk at a moderate pace. The best time to take a walk is after eating in the evening, which is often the most abundant – and therefore raises your blood sugar the most. It happens that the elevated blood sugar level after a hearty dinner (or half-board) lasts until late at night and even into the morning – but a walk significantly lowers it.
The study involved 10 people aged 60 and over, at risk of type 2 diabetes due to elevated blood sugar levels and low physical activity.
Elevated sugar levels after meals can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes – so resting after a meal is the worst thing you can do, the study authors said. According to experts, any physical activity, even of low intensity, is beneficial for the body. The elderly are particularly sensitive to excess blood sugar, as they are more likely to be insulin resistant, and insulin itself is secreted slowly or in small amounts by the pancreas.
According to the authors of the study, walks after meals may be a cheap and accessible method of preventing type 2 diabetes – but for now they want to confirm the effectiveness of such prophylaxis during larger-scale studies. It has already been shown that exercise and weight loss can prevent type 2 diabetes (PAP)
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