Bond University Exercise Science Professor, Greg Gass, research colleague, Dr Clare Minahan, and Bond University PhD student, Kevin Serre, have teamed up to undertake important research into diabetes.
Their research coincides with World Diabetes Day, today November 14, 2008.
PhD student Kevin Serre said that it was a relevant time to announce their findings.
“World Diabetes Day is an extremely important day for us,” he said.
“It promotes awareness to many people unaware of the warning signs of diabetes.”
The team are currently conducting a three-year research project into the exercise dose-response relationships for women aged 65 to 74 years with and without Type 2 diabetes.
The study also reinforces statistics released from Diabetes Australia stating that over 60% of all Type 2 diabetes cases are preventable through maintaining regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle.
Bond University Exercise Science Professor, Greg Gass, said he was awarded $668,875 in March from the National Health and Medical Research Council that was put towards the research.
“The funding went into the STEP ForWARD project (Striding Towards Exercise Prescription for Women: A Recommended Dose),” he said.
“Our findings have shown exercise to be an extremely effective means of preventing as well as alleviating the negative effects of diabetes, but the amount of exercise to do to gain this benefit is unknown.”
Mr Serre added that “by optimizing exercise prescription, we can improve our quality of life and possibly reverse many of the effects of diabetes.
“Our research involves female participants aged 65-74 years exercising in a purpose-built science laboratory in the Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine building at Bond University on a set number of days for a specified length of time,” he said.
“Initial results obtained by this measure have indicated a very positive response.
“We have seen drastic improvements in blood glucose control, general fitness and probably most important of all, an improvement in overall feeling of well-being in many of the ladies participating,” Mr Serre said.
Upon completion of the study, Professor Gass said he was expected to deliver the results of the project to local GPs.
“Our research will assist many GPs in the community,” said Professor Gass.
“It’s a significant public health initiative that is going to produce new knowledge,” he said.
For more information or to participate in the STEP ForWARD project please phone Greg Gass on (07) 559 54481.