Lack of physical activity in diabetes is the root cause of heart failure; study of 2.3 million people reveals

News Topical, Digital Desk : Did you know that physical inactivity is a major cause of heart failure and other heart diseases in diabetic patients? Recent research has confirmed that if diabetic patients are not physically active, their risk of death increases significantly.

Worrying statistics for India

According to a new research published in the 'Journal of Sport and Health Science', the main reason behind more than 13 percent of heart failure cases among diabetic patients in India is lack of physical activity.

This research shows that among people with diabetes in India:

9.6 percent of coronary heart disease cases, and 9.4 percent of other heart-related complications, occur simply because patients do not get enough physical exercise or activity.

What is the opinion of experts?

Jane Fetter, a researcher at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, provided important insights into this topic. She explained that people often assume that having diabetes is a surefire way to develop other complications, but this isn't true.

According to Jane Fetter, “Our findings challenge this long-held belief. It is clear that if diabetic patients increase their physical activity appropriately, a large proportion of these serious diseases could be prevented.”

Research done on 23 lakh people

For this study, researchers analyzed data from more than 2.3 million adult diabetes patients from various regions around the world, including South Asia. It found that globally, inactivity is responsible for one in ten cases of major blood vessel problems and eye disease.

How high is the risk of diseases?

The analysis revealed that physical inactivity increases the risk of several serious diseases in diabetes patients:

• Stroke: more than 10 percent of cases
• Diabetic retinopathy: 9.7 percent
• Heart failure: 7.3 percent
• Coronary heart disease: about 5 to 7 percent

What is the way out?

The solution to reduce this risk is simple: exercise. The World Health Organization recommends that everyone engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week. Even a little activity can protect diabetes patients from serious risks like heart failure and stroke.

Read More: Heart Disease Warning Signs: From BP to climbing stairs, these 4 ways will tell you how your heart and arteries are doing.