Aims: Epidemiologic evidence suggests that
physical activity is associated with reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes. Walking
is simple, effective, and by far the most prevalent physical activity among
older adults. However, it is difficult to recognize and evaluate
performance-based parameters of physical activity. The purpose of this study
was to evaluate the importance of performance-based gait speed among several
physical measurements in the development of Type 2 diabetes using long-term community-based
data on elderly Japanese persons. Methods: 10 baseline physical measurements,
including habitual (HGS) and fast (FGS) gait speed, were examined in 102
elderly Japanese persons living independently in the community (mean age: 71.1
years old) who were not previously diagnosed with diabetes. The subjects then
participated in a daily exercise program consisting of walking, stretching,
muscle strengthening, and balance exercises and were followed for an average of
4.16 years. Using Cox proportional hazards models with adjustment for age, sex,
and category of fasting glucose status, we investigated whether gait speed
and/or other physical measurements are associated with development of Type 2
diabetes. Results: 9 subjects developed Type 2 diabetes. Among the 10 physical
parameters examined, prolongation of HGS and FGS per second was the only
statistically significant factors, with hazard
ratios 1.83 (1.15 - 2.89, P = 0.010) and 2.93 (1.43 - 6.03, P = 0.003), respectively.
Conclusions: We found a negative association between the development of Type 2
diabetes and gait speed among elderly Japanese people. We conclude that
encouraging physical activity and preserving walking capacity may be beneficial
for preventing Type 2 diabetes.