A daily 45 minute walk limits the impact of diabetes

According to scientists in the UK, by simply walking for an extra 45 minutes a day, people with diabetes can limit the impact of the disease.

The scientists from Newcastle University conducted a study involving people with late-onset, or type 2 diabetes and found that walking improved their bodies' ability to store sugar and burn fat, which after a few weeks reduced the effects of diabetes.

According to the World Health Organization, back in 2000 at least 171 million people worldwide were suffering from diabetes and it is estimated that by the year 2030, this number will almost double.

Most people afflicted have type 2 diabetes which is linked to obesity and a sedentary lifestyle - left untreated it can lead to blood vessel damage that triggers heart disease, strokes and can require the amputation of limbs.

Type 2 diabetes is usually initially treated by increasing physical activity, decreasing carbohydrate intake, and losing weight.

The research team used MRI scanners to measure how efficiently 20 volunteers, 10 of whom had type 2 diabetes, burned energy in their leg muscles before and after taking part in the eight-week trial.

Each volunteer was given a pedometer and asked to walk more than 10,000 steps a day by walking at lunchtime, or before or after work.

People on average, take around 6,000 steps during their daily routine - the scans revealed that by being more active, diabetics burned 20% more fat and were able to store more sugar in their muscles.

As muscles are the biggest depots for the storage of sugar in the body, when they fail to absorb enough, sugar levels stay abnormally high in the bloodstream, causing damage to veins, arteries and organs.

Research has shown that high levels of fat in the blood and muscles prevents muscles storing sugar effectively - exercise helps tiny powerhouses inside cells called mitochondria, burn up the fat and sugar and exercise helps them become more efficient.

Lead researcher Dr. Michael Trenell says people often find the idea of going to the gym quite a daunting proposition and this method gives people an immediate way to help control diabetes without any additional drugs.

Dr. Trenell, says the message is simple - walking 45 minutes extra a day helps diabetes - and almost everyone with diabetes can become more active through walking.