In an interview for the show "Time to Wake Up" on News24, endocrinologist Sulejman Budo emphasized the vital importance of physical activity in the treatment and prevention of type 2 diabetes. He clearly stated that the first and most important treatment is not medication, but movement.
“Physical activity is the number one treatment for type 2 diabetes,” Budo declared. “Everyone thinks of medication, but no, it’s physical activity. Second is healthy eating, third is medication.”
According to the endocrinologist, physical activity helps increase muscle sensitivity to insulin, significantly improving glucose absorption into cells. This is especially important for patients with type 2 diabetes, who often face a lack of insulin production or tissue resistance to it.
“Physical activity is not just walking,” he added. “5 kilometers a day is a normal part of the day. Something more needs to be done. Daily life activity is not physical activity.”
The doctor also emphasized that diabetes is not a consequence of age, but rather a result of factors such as untreated hypertension, unhealthy diet, and lack of physical activity. “These factors trigger diabetes,” Budo warned.
