Gym rats, rejoice! According to a recent study, diabetes patients with strong grips were more likely to live longer than those with a weak grip.
Wait, what?
It’s true. How firmly you can squeeze may be an indicator of your health with diabetes.
Grip Strength Linked to Diabetic Health
A study from the University of Glasgow recently examined the relationship between grip strength and outcomes as related to diabetes.
The study team suggests that those with diabetes and little to no grip strength may be at a greater risk of cardiovascular disease.
They were able to determine this by reviewing the health database called the UK Biobank. In the database is the medical history of almost 350,000 adults.
The goal of the study was to determine whether or not grip strength is an indicator of health outcomes among people with diabetes.
They found that people with diabetes and a strong grip were less likely to die due to complications caused by diabetes. They also had a lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease altogether.
This proved to be true for both genders and among all ages. The follow-up period of the study was a short one, less than five years. Even within that small timeframe, over 4,000 of the diabetes patients developed cardiovascular disease.
Over 6,000 of them died.
So, what gives? Grip strength is a good indicator of overall muscle tone, which is essential for those with diabetes.
Strong Grip Strength May Lead to Better Health Outcomes
The study did not intend to imply that your grip strength is an influential aspect of your health. Instead, it has to do with your overall muscle tone throughout the entire body.
Good muscle tone implies regular physical activity. With regular physical activity, instances of cardiovascular disease are decreased, weight is lower, and general health is improved.
So while grip strength is a quick and easy way to determine health outcomes, it points more to the fact that a healthy lifestyle serves as a protective factor against diabetes. Not the grip strength, itself.
If you would like to benefit from a strong grip, try incorporating regular exercise into your daily habits!
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Diabetes.co.uk. URL Link. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
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