Discover how walking reduces the risk of diabetes by up to 39%

Researchers analyzed 10 studies involving 508,121 people from the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom. They found that walking at a pace of about 3 to 5 km/h reduced the risk of diabetes by 15%, compared with walking slower than 3 km/h, regardless of how much they walked. 5 km/h is equivalent to about 2 steps per second.

Walking briskly at a speed of 5 to 6.5 km/h reduces the risk of diabetes by up to 24%, according to the research journal Study Finds.

In particular, walking briskly at a speed of over 6.5 km/hour reduces the risk of diabetes by up to 39% - this speed is equivalent to about 3 steps/second.

The number of adults with type 2 diabetes globally is growing at a staggering rate, currently standing at 537 million and expected to rise to 783 million by 2045, said lead author Dr Ahmad Jayedi of Semnan University of Medical Sciences (Iran) in a press release. This highlights the need to find simple, cost-effective preventive measures.

Dr Ahmad says brisk walking could be a simple way to combat type 2 diabetes.

Walking speed is not only a measure of overall health but also a measure of functional capacity.

Faster walking speed indicates better cardiovascular health and muscle strength, factors that are inversely related to diabetes risk, Dr Ahmad added.