Adherence
Higher baseline habitual physical activity, measured objectively as daily step count, is associated with a significantly lower risk of progression to type 2 diabetes in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance.
If you have prediabetes, aim to increase your daily step count. The study shows that every additional 2,000 steps per day (roughly 20 minutes of walking) lowers your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by about 5.5%. You don't need to reach 10,000 steps immediately; start by adding small amounts of walking to your day. Use a simple pedometer to track your progress objectively.
In this post hoc observational analysis of NAVIGATOR data, a 24% lower risk of diabetes was seen in those with impaired glucose tolerance and either CVD or cardiovascular risk factors who had a baseline physical activity level of 10 000 steps/day compared with 2000 steps/day.
Why this rating
Large sample size (n=9306), objective measurement (pedometer), long follow-up (median 6.4 years), and adjustment for multiple confounders, though it is an observational analysis within a trial.
Source
Relationship between baseline physical activity assessed by pedometer count and new-onset diabetes in the NAVIGATOR trial
William E. Kraus et al. · BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care · 2018
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