Exercising protects against type 2 diabetes - even in old age

Diabetes specialist Nicolas Musi, M.D., associate professor in the School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, said exercise increases the number and function of energy-making factories in muscle cells, which protects against development of type 2 diabetes. According to his oppinion,  whether a person is 8 years old or 88, exercise helps protect against type 2 diabetes and while the benefits are related to the amount of exercise, in general, any amount of exercise is better than none.

It does this, in part, by revving up the function of small structures called mitochondria, which are found inside cells. Scientists don’t know why, but one hypothesis is that exercise activates an enzyme called AMP kinase. This enzyme monitors energy levels and maintains normal levels of energy in cells.