Live online event to highlight positive health impact of walking

The health benefits associated with increasing your daily step count will be discussed during a Facebook live session next week.

Dr Joe Henson, Research Fellow at Leicester Diabetes Centre (LDC), and Doctor Johnathan Goldney, NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow in Diabetes and Endocrinology, will highlight how walking an extra 500 steps a day can reduce your risk of all-cause mortality by up to nine per cent.

Taking place on Monday, June 12, at 4pm, the online event will inform attendees that brisk walking for five to six minutes every day can add four years to your lifespan.

Other important details surrounding the benefits of moving more will also be provided during the Facebook live.

These findings are 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 Henson said: “We are extremely excited to discuss all things ‘stepping’ in this upcoming Facebook live event.   

“This online session will unravel the incredible benefits that come with moving more and increasing your daily step count.”

He added: “With its simplicity, accessibility and numerous health benefits, walking is a powerful tool for improving and maintaining your overall well-being, so we cannot wait to explore its impact in more detail.”

This free-to-attend Facebook event is the third session in a series of live videos looking at the five S’s. 

Professor Melanie Davies CBE, Co-Director of LDC, kickstarted the five S’s Facebook live series in February with a general look at the impact of physical behaviours on the health of people living with type 2 diabetes. The previous sessions can be found on the LDC Facebook page to watch back.

She said: “We created an educational infographic outlining the five S’s because we want to equip people with the knowledge they need to effectively manage their condition.

“By delivering sessions on these key behaviours, we aim to promote a holistic approach to diabetes management.”

She added: “We want to empower individuals to make informed choices that positively impact their health and well-being.”

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 lifestyle, 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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