Physical activity
Physical activity is an important element of diabetes management. It promotes good health, improves diabetic outcomes and helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Resources
Here are links to evidence-based resources which support this topic. You may also want to refer to information about the national service frameworks and strategies across the UK.
Some of the resources on this page are in PDF format - see how to access PDF files.
Guidelines and guidance
Department of Health (2009) Be active, be healthy: a plan for getting the nation moving
This establishes a new framework for the delivery of physical activity alongside sport for the period leading up to the London 2012 Olympic Games, Paralympic Games and beyond. The plan also sets out new ideas for local authorities and primary care trusts to help determine and respond to the needs of their local populations, providing and encouraging more physical activity.
NICE Public health guidance (2006) Four commonly used methods to increase physical activity: brief interventions in primary care, exercise referral schemes, pedometers and community-based exercise programmes for walking and cycling
This guidance (Public Health Intervention Guidance number two) examines only a small number of possible approaches to increasing individual activity levels. 'The broader environmental and organisational changes needed are the subject of future programme guidance being developed by NICE.'
Systematic reviews and evidence summaries
Cochrane Review: Exercise or exercise and diet for preventing type 2 diabetes mellitus
The review concludes that interventions aimed at increasing exercise combined with diet are able to decrease the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in high risk groups (people with impaired glucose tolerance or the metabolic syndrome). It also points to the need for studies exploring exercise only interventions and studies exploring the effect of exercise and diet on quality of life, morbidity and mortality, with special focus on cardiovascular outcomes.
Cochrane Review: Exercise for overweight or obesity
This review assesses exercise as a means of achieving weight loss in people with overweight or obesity, using randomised controlled clinical trials.
Cochrane Review: Exercise for type 2 diabetes mellitus
Some studies evaluate an exercise intervention including diet or behaviour modification or both so that the effects of diet and exercise are not differentiated. This review aims to assess the effects of exercise in Type 2 diabetes.
Other resources
Diabetes UK: Keeping active
This section of the website identifies issues around increasing activity and what it means to individuals with diabetes.
Mountains for Active Diabetics
Mountains for Active Diabetics is a loose association of outdoor enthusiasts who are interested in the challenges of managing diabetes in the outdoors, particularly at extremes of altitude, temperature and exertion.
Physical Activity and Nutrition Networks Wales
This website contains information about the Nutrition Network for Wales and the Physical Activity Network for Wales, latest news and events, research and evaluation, policies and strategies, target groups, campaigns, community initiatives, sources of funding and workforce development. The networks are for all individuals, organisations and sectors with a role to play in improving nutrition and levels of physical activity in Wales.
There are separate resources lists for other specific aspects of treatment and lifestyle - see Treatment and lifestyle topics.