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(Reuters Health) – Older women at risk for type 2 diabetes may want to break up prolonged periods of sitting by standing or going for short walks, suggests a new study from the UK.
Researchers found standing up or walking every so often improved blood sugar, or glucose, levels among postmenopausal women at risk for diabetes, compared to those who sat for 7.5 hours.
“We were really interested in seeing whether breaking up that sitting time with standing or walking had a role in breaking up glucose levels throughout the day,” said lead author Joseph Henson, of the University of Leicester.
The study involved 22 overweight postmenopausal women at risk for diabetes, and three possible daily routines. The women were randomly assigned to follow two of the routines on separate days, at least a week apart. Either they would sit for 7.5 hours, or they would break up the time by standing up for five minutes every half hour, or they’d walk for five minutes every half hour.
The women ate a standardized breakfast and lunch, and the researchers then took blood samples throughout the day.
“After eating, there is a big spike in glucose levels,” said Henson. “In those with impaired glucose regulation, they’re not able to bring them back down to normal levels that quickly.”
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