Diabetes Patients Cut Death Risk With Weekend Workouts

Even sporadic activity significantly boosts longevity and heart health

Adults managing diabetes can dramatically lower their risk of dying from any cause by being active on weekends or exercising consistently. These findings offer renewed hope for individuals who find regular gym routines challenging.

Activity Levels Linked to Longevity

A comprehensive analysis of over 51,000 adults with diabetes tracked over two decades revealed substantial health benefits from physical activity. Those engaging in at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity per week, even if concentrated into one or two sessions, experienced a 21% reduction in all-cause mortality compared to inactive individuals. Those who spread their activity across three or more sessions weekly saw a 17% lower risk.

Heart Health Sees Major Gains

The positive effects are particularly pronounced for cardiovascular health. “Weekend warriors” showed a 33% lower risk of dying from heart-related issues, while regularly active participants had a 19% reduction. These findings are significant given the heightened risk of premature mortality associated with diabetes.

Cancer Mortality Shows Smaller Impact

While the benefits for cancer deaths were less pronounced, regularly active individuals showed a slight decrease in risk compared to their inactive counterparts. The study noted minimal differences in cancer mortality risk between “weekend warriors” and inactive individuals.

Broader Public Health Implications

Even those who were not highly active but still engaged in some form of physical activity benefited, demonstrating a lower mortality risk than those who remained sedentary. This reinforces the idea that any movement is better than none for individuals with diabetes.

“This should be reassuring given the elevated premature mortality risk, distinct physiology, and low physical activity adherence among adults with diabetes,” the researchers reported. “These findings reinforce the importance of flexible physical activity patterns for people with diabetes as they can improve insulin sensitivity and glycemic control — especially for those who face barriers to maintaining regularly routine exercise.”

—Haibin Li, PhD, Lead Researcher

A 2023 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated that only about 20% of adults with diabetes meet the recommended physical activity guidelines, highlighting the relevance of these findings for a large segment of the population.

Study Details and Limitations

The research, published in *Annals of Internal Medicine*, analyzed data from the National Health Interview Survey from 1997 to 2019. Participants were categorized into inactive, insufficiently active, weekend warrior, and regularly active groups. While the study accounted for numerous confounding factors like age, BMI, and chronic conditions, it relied on self-reported physical activity and did not capture activity outside of leisure time or changes in activity levels over the study period.