Two minutes of exercise to prevent diabetes
A research from Abertay University, UK published in the journal Biology believes that just two minutes of high-intensity exercise per week can help prevent type-2 (non insulin-dependent) diabetes.
The study was conducted on overweight adults group for eight weeks; a group at high-risk of developing diabetes. Each participant were supposed to complete sprints on an exercise bike, each sprint lasting for just six seconds. At the end of each session a total of ten sprints were completed amounting to just two minutes of exercise per week. This short, but high-intensity regime was sufficient to improve the cardiovascular (heart) health as well as insulin sensitivity (the body’s ability to utilize sugar in the blood) in the participants.
The researchers said that it was the first time that such little exercise has been shown to have such significant health benefits. Earlier, the same research team had done a study that had suggested three high-intensity trainings in a week. But this research demonstrated that the same results can be achieved with just two minutes of intensive exercise per week.
‘With this study, we investigated the benefits of high-intensity training (HIT) in a population group known to be at risk of developing diabetes: overweight, middle-aged adults,’ said Dr John Babraj, Head, HIT team, Abertay University. ‘We found that not only does HIT reduce the risk of them developing the disease, but also that the regime needs to be performed only twice a week in order for them to reap the benefits,’ Babraj said.
HIT is an effective solution for people who cite lack of time as their inability to do any exercise on a regular basis. In addition, HIT reduces the disease risk which activities such as walking for 30 minutes 5 times a week offer. ‘There is a clear relationship between the intensity of exercise and the magnitude of health improvement, so it is only through these short, high-intensity sprints that health improvements can be seen,’ said Babraj.
Now there is no excuse that people often give for not doing exercise; the biggest excuse being lack of time. It’s sad if people don’t have two minutes to prevent a deadly medical condition like diabetes.
