Sitting for long periods of time increases the risk of premature death in people with diabetes. Fortunately, physical activity can effectively counteract this effect.
A new study by experts at Columbia University has investigated whether physical activity in people with diabetes can influence the relationship between sitting time and overall mortality, and in particular mortality from heart disease. The results can be read in the journal Diabetes Care.
Over 6,300 participants
For the new study, the team analyzed data from a total of 6,335 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. This data included self-reported information on how much time participants spent sitting and how often they engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity.
Depending on their physical activity, the participants were divided into different categories. These ranged from inactive (less than 10 minutes per week) to moderately active (10 to 149 minutes per week) to active (150 minutes or more per week).
Low physical activity a risk
During the average medical follow-up period of 5.9 years, a total of 1,278 participants died from various causes, 354 participants died from heart disease, the researchers report.
In addition, 38 percent of the participants reported being moderately to vigorously physically active for less than ten minutes per week, and according to the experts, these participants were at a significantly increased risk of premature death overall.
Sitting affects life expectancy
It was shown that a longer period of sedentary activity (participants in the inactive or insufficiently active category) was associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality and mortality from heart disease among participants with diabetes.
“Given the widespread diabetes epidemic and the tendency among adults with diabetes to sit more and move less, it is especially important to address the increased risk of mortality in this high-risk group,” emphasizes study author Dr. Wen Dai in a recent press release.
Active people without increased risk
However, according to the researchers, no increased risk of overall mortality or premature death due to heart disease was found among participants in the active category.
According to the researchers, people who spend a large part of their day sitting down should be encouraged and supported to get enough exercise. This is especially true for people with diabetes and people whose life circumstances require them to sit for long periods of time, such as in an office job. (as)