Women can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by doing muscle-strengthening exercises, a latest study suggests.
Researchers at Harvard School of Public Health examined the data of 99, 316 middle-aged women. The participants previously contributed to the Nurses' Health Study ([NHS] 2000-2008) and Nurses' Health Study II ([NHSII] 2001-2009) and did not have diabetes.
The participants were asked about their daily physical activities. The study authors analysed weekly time spent on engaging in resistance exercise, lower intensity muscular conditioning exercises like yoga, stretching, toning, and aerobic moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) reported at baseline and in 2004 and 2005.
The researchers stated that during the 705,869 person years of follow-up, 3,491 women developed type 2 diabetes, according to a news release.
Women engaging in at least 150 minutes of aerobics every week and minimum of 60 minutes of muscle-strengthening showed the maximum risk reduction of developing diabetes.
"The findings from our study...suggest that incorporating muscle-strengthening and conditioning activities with aerobic activity according to the current recommendation for physical activity provides substantial benefit for [diabetes] prevention in women," researchers said in a news release.
The researchers also noted that women who followed the recommendations for both muscle-strengthening and aerobic activity were reported to have significant reduction in diabetes risk..
