High muscle strength can prevent the “future risk” of developing type 2 diabetes, latest research has highlighted.
Academics from the University of Hong Kong have found that people with higher muscle strength are 40% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared to those with lower muscle strength.
Individuals with type 2 diabetes are at greater risk of developing several health complications, such as cardiovascular disease, narrowed blood vessels, a stroke and high blood pressure.
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Roughly 10% of people around the world are living with type 2 diabetes – a chronic condition where the body either does not produce enough insulin, or the body’s cells do not respond properly to the insulin it does produce, leading to high blood sugar levels.
Genetic traits and poor lifestyle factors can cause type 2 diabetes, experts have said.
Good muscular fitness can combat the development of type 2 diabetes and other cardiometabolic diseases.
First author Professor Ryan Au Yeung said: “This study highlights the significance of Biobank studies in examining the interaction between exposures and genetics in influencing the risk of type 2 diabetes.
“Further research utilising ethnic-specific Biobank studies is needed to determine if these findings are applicable to other populations, such as East Asians.”
Fellow author Professor Youngwon Kim said: “Individuals in middle-to-late life are at increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
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“However, our study has demonstrated the potential roles of high muscle strength in preventing the future risk of developing type 2 diabetes not only in all individuals, but also individuals with high genetic predisposition to type 2 diabetes.”
Professor Kim concluded: “Our study supports the current public health guidelines which suggest that adults should engage in muscle-strengthening activities for at least two days per week from a disease prevention perspective.”
Read the study in full in the journal BMC Medicine.
