American Diabetes Association® Recommends Light, Physical Activity Every 30 Minutes for Third Annual, National Get Fit Don't Sit Day™ on May 3

ARLINGTON, Va., May 2, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Tomorrow, May 3, marks the American Diabetes Association's (Association) third annual National Get Fit Don't Sit Day, an opportunity to increase awareness of the dangers of prolonged sitting and the importance of moving more throughout the day. The Association's 2017 Standards of Medial Care in Diabetes recommend breaking up sedentary time with three or more minutes of physical activity—such as walking, leg extensions or overhead arm stretches—every 30 minutes for improved health outcomes (in addition to getting the recommended 30 minutes a day, five days per week, of moderate exercise). Regular physical activity also helps people with type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes manage blood glucose, and reduces risk for type 2 diabetes.

"Research has indicated that sitting for prolonged periods of time can increase risk for serious health issues including diabetes," said Alicia McAuliffe-Fogarty, PhD, CPsychol, vice president of the lifestyle management team at the American Diabetes Association. "The average adult sits more than seven hours each day. National Get Fit Don't Sit Day is our chance to encourage all Americans to keep moving throughout the day for better health."

Individuals who would like to increase their physical activity can begin by incorporating one change at a time. Some suggestions include:

• Setting an alarm for every 30 minutes to get up and stand, walk or stretch.
• Taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
• Completing chair exercises while sitting at a desk, like raising legs and arms.
• Using part or all of a lunch break to take a walk.
• Walking or riding a bike to nearby locations instead of driving.

Companies and organizations looking to motivate their employees and members to get active on National Get Fit Don't Sit Day and beyond can download the Association's e-toolkit, which includes activation ideas, email templates, social media messages, animated GIFs, tip sheets, an infographic and more.  

National Get Fit Don't Sit Day is sponsored by NRG Energy, Inc., a leading integrated power company. Active in the Association's Step Out walks and Tour de Cure cycling events across the country, NRG is dedicated to improving the health of its nearly 10,000 employees in 22 states.

The Association is also partnering with Charity Miles—a free, social good app that raises money for various charities through logged physical activity—to help raise funds for the Association's many programs and resources. To get started with Charity Miles, users simply download the app at CharityMiles.org; select the American Diabetes Association from the list of charities; make sure location tracking is enabled on their smart phones; and get moving. Anyone who uses the app to log walks, runs or bike rides can raise money for the Association.

National Get Fit Don't Sit Day is part of Wellness Lives Here^™, an American Diabetes Association initiative designed to help companies, organizations and communities educate and motivate people to adopt a more active lifestyle and improve their health. To learn more, visit wellnessliveshere.org.

About the American Diabetes Association
More than 29 million Americans have diabetes, and every 23 seconds another person is diagnosed with diabetes. The American Diabetes Association (Association) is the global authority on diabetes and since 1940 has been committed to its mission to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. To tackle this global public health crisis, the Association drives discovery in research to treat, manage and prevent all types of diabetes, as well as to search for cures; raises voice to the urgency of the diabetes epidemic; and provides support and advocacy for people living with diabetes, those at risk of developing diabetes and the health care professionals who serve them. For more information, please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit diabetes.org. Information from both of these sources is available in English and Spanish. Find us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn). 

SOURCE American Diabetes Association

Related Links

http://www.diabetes.org