Benefits of breaking up prolonged sitting to be explored during live online event
A Facebook Live video session is taking place today which will look at the positive health impact of reducing and regularly breaking up prolonged sitting in people with type 2 diabetes.
Dr Charlotte Edwardson, an Associate Professor at the University of Leicester, who has an interest in physical activity and sedentary behaviour, will lead Leicester Diabetes Centre’s (LDC) latest online session on Monday, May 22, at 4pm alongside Doctor Johnathan Goldney, NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow in Diabetes and Endocrinology.
During the Facebook Live event, Dr Edwardson will present research that reveals how people living with type 2 diabetes can improve their glucose metabolism by regularly breaking up prolonged sitting throughout the day. Doctor Goldney will present an example of how to apply this research in clinical practice.
This finding is part of the LDC’s five S’s concept, which was developed as a key part of the 2022 consensus report from the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
In an educational infographic, the LDC team has highlighted five important health behaviours – sitting, stepping, sweating, strengthening and sleep – that people living with diabetes should be aware of to help them better manage their condition.
Dr Edwardson said: “Breaking up prolonged sitting is really important for people living with type 2 diabetes. We know that when people sit for long periods of time, their blood sugar levels can increase, and this can have negative effects on their health. That’s why we recommend following the five S’s.”
She added: “By incorporating these behaviours into their daily lives, people with diabetes can improve their health and better manage their condition.”
This free-to-attend Facebook event is the second session in a series of live videos looking at the five S’s.
Professor Melanie Davies CBE, Co-Director of the Leicester Diabetes Centre (LDC), kickstarted the five S’s Facebook live series in February with a general overlook on the impact of physical behaviours on the health of people living with type 2 diabetes.
“We know that regular exercise is very important for people living with type 2 diabetes,” said Professor Davies CBE.
She added: “However, other behaviours that over the course a day are vital too. Over 24 hours, we spend time sitting, sleeping, walking and exercising. All of these activities affect our health. We should all be aware of how important the whole day is when talking about our activity levels and our health.”
LDC is led by Co-Directors Professor Davies CBE and Professor Kamlesh Khunti CBE. Hosted at Leicester General Hospital, the Centre is a partnership between the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and the University of Leicester.
The Centre has a national and international reputation for clinical care that is underpinned by innovative and world-leading clinical research. A wide range of research studies have been implemented by the LDC, focusing on the areas of early detection, prevention, structured education, and new therapies, along with teaching and training for both patients and healthcare professionals. The results of these studies have had an impact on local NHS policies, Department of Health programmes and NICE guidance.
The world-renowned, multi-disciplinary research team based at the LDC is also leading the way by providing the evidence behind their education programmes and widening the knowledge base for health and disease management. This includes creating education programmes for people with diabetes and healthcare professionals in the prevention and management of diabetes, as well as a suite of programmes supporting other long-term, related conditions.
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