Sitting for Prolonged Period of Time Even With Exercise can Increases Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

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About 29.1 million Americans or 9.3% of the population have diabetes as of 2012. Among this statistic, 8.1 million go undiagnosed, according to the American Diabetes Association.

A new report published in the journal "Diabetologia" has revealed how sitting for prolonged periods of time increases one's risk for type 2 diabetes by 22%, Healthday reports. Researchers warn, however, that their study has found an association between sitting for a long time, and not a cause-and-effect relationship between the two.

According to U.S. News & World Report, researchers collected data on 2,497 adults with ages averaging 60, who were part of a population-based study in the Netherlands. The study subjects were asked to wear an accelerometer for eight days to monitor the time they spend in a sedentary position. Researchers led by Julianne van der Berg from Maastricht University in the Netherlands, calculated the participants' daily sedentary time, the number of sedentary breaks, and prolonged sedentary periods (meaning 30 minutes or more), and the average lengths of their sedentary periods. The researchers also monitored each participants' blood sugar.

Results showed that 56% of the participants had normal blood sugar, while 15% had high blood sugar, and 29% of participants had type 2 diabetes. Researchers also found that those who had type 2 diabetes had the most sedentary time, with 26 more minutes daily compared to their counterparts with normal or elevated blood sugar.

"We all know that physical activity is important, but now we see that sitting is a bad thing. The more you sit, the higher the risk [for type 2 diabetes], regardless of how much you exercise," Van der Berg explained.

However, Dr. Joel Zonszein, director of the Clinical Diabetes Center at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, points out that it's more than just one's lifestyle that contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes among people. He cited that some people have a genetic predisposition for the disease.

"It is not only the time we spend in front of the TV or computer, it is also the type of food and or snack we consume when sitting in front of the screens that increases the risk," Zonszeinc commented. "This study shows that in order to avoid or delay diabetes—independent of high-intensity physical activity—people at risk should be aware of and avoid, or reduce, the amount of sedentary time."

CNN reports that the World Health Organization recognizes physical inactivity as the fourth-leading risk factor for death for all people globally, which is why health experts encourage standing breaks in between long periods of sitting, or standing up and walking around during television commercial breaks. Other health authorities encourage the use of wearable technology that helps keep track of one's mobility, and alerts the user when he or she has been sedentary for a long period of time.

Studies have already proven how sedentary behavior can not only lead to type 2 diabetes, but also a number of other diseases, including cardiovascular problems, cancer, and other chronic conditions.