KEY POINTS
- Over 6% of adults globally have type 2 diabetes, expected to rise to nearly 7% by 2030
- A new study shows that 150 minutes of weekly exercise can make individuals with prediabetes four times more likely to reverse the condition
- Maintaining HbA1c levels below 6.0% and staying active are key strategies to prevent or reverse prediabetes
ISLAMABAD: In a world where type 2 diabetes is rapidly becoming a global public health crisis, a new study offers hope — not through medication, but through regular physical activity.
Researchers have found that just 150 minutes of exercise per week can significantly improve blood sugar levels and even reverse prediabetes, providing a simple yet powerful tool in preventing the disease.
With over 6 percent of the global adult population currently living with type 2 diabetes — a number projected to rise to nearly 7 percent by 2030 — the urgency to act is greater than ever.
But the World Health Organization (WHO) remains optimistic, stressing that the disease is largely preventable through lifestyle choices such as staying active and maintaining a healthy body weight.
Adding muscle to that message, a recent study published in Cardiovascular Diabetology – Endocrinology Reports has found that just over two hours of weekly exercise — 150 minutes to be exact — can make a world of difference for individuals with prediabetes.
The research shows that those who met this target were four times more likely to reverse their condition and return to normal blood sugar levels.
“This is a wake-up call,” said Dr. David Cutler, a board-certified physician at Providence Saint John’s Health Centre in Santa Monica, CA, in an interview with Medical News Today.
Though not involved in the study, Cutler emphasised the significance of its findings: “Prediabetes doesn’t often come with symptoms, but it’s a red flag — nearly half of those with it will go on to develop full-blown diabetes. And with that comes a heavy price: increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, vision loss, infections, and an overall decline in quality of life.”
The study reinforces the timeless advice doctors have given for decades: eat well, move more, and watch your weight. But now, patients have a precise benchmark — 150 minutes of physical activity per week — a small investment of time for a potentially life-altering payoff.
Researchers also identified another critical marker: maintaining HbA1c levels below 6.0 percent, a key indicator of long-term blood sugar control.
