Diabetes is a dreaded disease that affects millions of around the world. It is a metabolic syndrome wherein the body:

1. Produces less insulin which affects its ability to effectively regulate blood sugar levels, or;
2. the cells have become resistant and unresponsive to insulin.

The common treatment for diabetes, especially for type 2 diabetes, is the introduction of insulin supplement commonly through the use of a syringe. This process is a common routine for people suffering from the health condition. Researchers around the world are constantly looking out for natural ways to prevent the occurrence of the disease. And every step is bringing them closer to finding the right solution to bring down diabetes risk to zero.

A majority of people who are stricken with the health condition are insulin resistant; this is also known as type 2 diabetes. The metabolic syndrome occurs when cells have become less responsive to the insulin that is naturally produced by the body in order to regulate the levels of sugar in the blood. Natural treatments for type 2 diabetes will normally have the approach of improving the cell’s response to insulin. A number of food ingredients have been found by different studies to improve the body’s metabolic processes including the processing of glucose. An Australian study takes a look at losing excess weight in order to optimize the body’s sugar metabolism. And they are recommending frequent walking to shed off excess fat.

Walking Away from the Risk of Diabetes

Every step matters when it comes to diabetes prevention. A single change in lifestyle can make the biggest difference and medical experts are recommending this approach to better reduce the risk of developing diabetes and other health conditions. A study conducted by a group of researchers from Melbourne, Australia found that a simple habit of frequent walking can take a person right where he needs to be: away from diabetes.

Walking is a common habit for everyone. We walk to leave the bed, take a bath, eat breakfast, go to work, go back home and just about everything that we do calls for a few steps. And if there is one method that everyone can relate to when it comes to reducing the risk of developing diabetes, walking would the perfect habit. But not everyone realizes the full importance of walking. Some would prefer to save their energy by preferring to talk the lift, use a Segway and even drive for short distances. Numerous studies have found the significant health benefits of walking and a study has found that taking up to 10,000 steps in a day can notably reduce the risk of developing diabetes.

A study published in the BMJ Journal addressed the need for frequent walking in diabetes prevention. The researchers suggested that taking around 10,000 steps a day can reduce the risk of the health condition. They assembled a group of almost 600 middle–aged Australians and gathered information regarding their walking habits. They found that people who took more steps in a five-year period and who take an average of 10,000 steps in a day have better insulin sensitivity, lower body mass index and less fat around the belly area compared to the study participants who took less steps in a day.

Head researchers Terry Dwyer, the director of Murdoch Children’s Research Institute of the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne said that their findings confirm the benefits of frequent walking in reducing body mass index. Dwyer suggests promoting increased physical activity in adults in order to reduce the risk of developing the disease. He added that with the use of a pedometer, they were able to monitor the study participants’ walking frequency and better observe their walking habits. The study participants also volunteered information regarding their overall lifestyle and diet. The study lasted for 5 years and at the end of the study period, each participant’s diabetes risk was reassessed.

The researchers concluded that people who were able to take an average of 10,000 steps in a day had lower body mass index and this directly affected their risk of developing the dreaded metabolic syndrome. They were found to have lesser risk of developing diabetes than people who took an average of 3,000 of steps a day.

Just Walk

Walking offers more health benefits than one. Different health conditions had been linked to the lack of physical activity like cardiovascular and chronic diseases, and even cancer. Walking improves the body’s metabolic processes, including sugar metabolism, by maintaining a healthy body weight. The numerous health benefits of walking includes improving mood, lowering blood pressure, and increasing levels of high-density lipoprotein, or the good form of cholesterol, and lowering low-density lipoprotein or bad cholesterol levels.

Walking around the park can be the best way of achieving the health benefits of walking, while taking the stairs instead of the lift is not a bad way of doing it either. Walking is the most natural way of burning calories and is the simplest form of exercise to indulge in when you are trying to get rid of excess fat. It is a more practical and easier approach to getting enough exercise than going to the gym or buying expensive workout equipments; not everyone has the time and money to do either. Walking is a natural movement that does not call for excessive physical exertion. This makes it a recommended physical activity and it doesn’t cost a dime to perform.

Lifestyle change is the best approach to preventing diabetes. Healthy and frequent exercise has been found to significantly reduce the risk of developing diabetes. Body weight has been linked to higher diabetes risk. One way to avoid this is by managing weight by exercising frequently. Physical exercise will force stored energy in the form of fat to be utilized to cope with the increased need for energy. Eating healthy, on the other hand, will supply the body with its much needed nutrients in order to function properly. Some types of food that should be avoided are those that contain saturated fats and too much sugar since these can increase the risk of developing diabetes.  Load up on that are foods rich in antioxidants, fiber and healthy fats because it can help reduce diabetes risk.

Sources
diabetes.webmd.com
riva.1317.information-seeking.com
nhs.uk