People with a family history of diabetes are predisposed to the condition themselves, and tend to have greater ‘resistance’ – insensitivity – to insulin, which affects blood sugar control.

Now, new research from the British Heart Foundation suggests that exercise can combat these people’s innate susceptibility to adult-onset diabetes by lowering the body’s insulin resistance – the most important biological risk factor for diabetes.

According to Diabetes UK, there are over 2.3 million people with diabetes in the UK. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type and accounts for 85-95% of cases.

The researchers from the University of Glasgow found that after seven weeks of an exercise programme, insulin resistance had reduced by 22% in women whose family history put them at a high risk of type 2 diabetes, while no significant change in insulin resistance was seen in women from non-diabetic families – although of course exercise had several other benefits for both groups.

“The offspring of people with type 2 diabetes are about three times more likely to develop the disease than those with no family history of the disease,” said researcher Dr Jason Gill.

“Not only is type 2 diabetes a very serious condition itself, but it can double or triple the risk of heart disease. In fact, more than two-thirds of all people with diabetes will die from heart disease.”

Dr Gill and colleagues at the University of Glasgow studied women between 20 and 45 years who usually did less than one hour of physical activity per week and had a sedentary job. Thirty four of the volunteers had at least one type 2 diabetic parent and 36 ‘control’ volunteers were recruited whose parents had no history of the condition.

At the outset of the study the offspring of diabetics had higher insulin resistance than the controls.

All the women undertook an exercise training programme of three 30 minute exercise sessions in the first week, working up to five 60 minute sessions in weeks six and seven. Exercise was focussed on cardiovascular activities such as running, using a rowing machine, aerobics and cycling.

“The same exercise programme reduced insulin resistance to a vastly greater extent in the women with diabetic parents, telling us that exercise is particularly good at reducing diabetes risk in this vulnerable group,” said researcher Dr Nick Barwell.

“Our research shows that developing diabetes is not inevitable for people with a family history of diabetes. People at high risk have it within their power to substantially reduce their risk by increasing their activity levels.”

Heart and circulatory disease is the UK’s biggest killer, every year around 146,000 people suffer a heart attack.

Read More on Diabetes:

Understanding Diabetes

Diabetes – Who is At Risk?

Symptoms of Diabetes

Tips To Prevent Diabetes