People with Diabetes are almost three times more likely to stick to an exercise plan if their doctors help them create it.

Dr. Anjali D. Deshpande of Saint Louis University in Missouri said that being physical active is an “extremely important component” of diabetes management, which helps keep weight under control and ward off complications of the disease.

She recommended that anyone with Diabetes should talk to their doctor about an exercise plan, and take advantage of what their communities offer.

Deshpande and her team interviewed 278 people with diabetes about how much they exercise, features of their communities, and if their doctors encouraged them to be active.

More than one-third of the people surveyed said they spent none of their free time on physical activity, the researchers report in the journal Diabetes Care.

People who were regularly active - meaning they exercised for at least 30 minutes at least 5 days per week - were more likely to be in better overall health, report a normal weight, and have no physical impairments.

Participants who said they had a lot of nearby places to walk, often walked to things close by and used three or more neighborhood exercise facilities such as public pools and parks were significantly more likely to get regular exercise.

“It is important for patients to learn about resources in their communities - parks, walking trails, walking clubs, recreational facilities that offer exercise classes, etc. - and then find the activities that they will enjoy and stick with over time,” Deshpande noted.

People who said their doctors helped them make an exercise plan were nearly three times more likely to regularly active.

Deshpande noted that, sadly, many doctors don’t have the time to work with patients on an exercise plan, so a nurse or physician’s assistant might be more available. “It is important, however, for diabetics who are new to exercise or haven’t exercised regularly for a while to consult with their physician to find the activity level and type best suited for them,” Deshpande recommended.

SOURCE: Diabetes Care, May 2005.