Physical activity and diabetes prevention

Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions worldwide and is associated with a large economic burden, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and premature mortality. Hyperglycemia is the hallmark clinical manifestation of diabetes and evolves through a multifactorial etiology of genetic, environmental, and behavioral enablers. Approximately 90% of diabetes cases are the non-insulin-dependent phenotype, which is characterized by a progressive deterioration in insulin-mediated glucose disposal, particularly by peripheral tissues. Our hypothesis is that the most proximal behavioral cause of insulin resistance is physical inactivity. Indeed, several streams of scientific research have demonstrated a role for physical activity in the etiology and prevention of diabetes and its related morbidity. In this review we will discuss some of the key observational and experimental studies that have examined associations among physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and non-insulin-dependent diabetes.