ReviewPhysical exercise for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetesExercice physique, prévention et traitement du diabète de type 2
Introduction
The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is rapidly increasing worldwide, and the risk of complications begins as early as in the prediabetic phase [1]. Type 2 diabetes is an expensive disease, representing 10–15% of the total health costs in the developed countries [2]. This means that the primary prevention of type 2 diabetes and its early treatment are necessary to avoid the later complications of type 2 diabetes and their related costs. Exercise, in addition to diet modification and medication, has been recommended as one of the three main components of diabetic therapy [3]. The present review aims to assess the effects of exercise in the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Section snippets
Exercise and the prevention of type 2 diabetes
Both genetic and environmental backgrounds are involved in the development of type 2 diabetes [4]. Although genetic factors are important in the development of type 2 diabetes, it is not possible to modify them to prevent the disease. In the US, the Nurses’ Health Study prospectively examined the separate and combined associations of obesity and physical activity with the development of type 2 diabetes in 68,907 female nurses who had no history of diabetes [5]. Obesity and physical inactivity
Main effects of exercise
Exercise, in addition to diet modification and medication, has been recommended as one of the three main components of diabetic therapy [3]. In spite of its recommendation, the effects of exercise in type 2 diabetics are not well documented, and there have been no large-scale studies with adequate statistical power to determine the effects of exercise on blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes. However, a meta-analysis was conducted on behalf of the Cochrane Collaboration [16] to assess the
Conclusion
Physical exercise is an efficient tool for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes and should, therefore, be part of any therapeutic strategies for such patients. In those at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, lifestyle interventions, including diet and physical exercise, results in a 50% reduction in diabetes incidence that persists for several years after the supervised lifestyle intervention has stopped. Because of the growing prevalence of high-risk patients worldwide and the
Conflict of interest statement
The authors have not declared any conflicts of interest.
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