Functional decline and disability increase the risk for developing diabetes, a large observational study of adults aged over age 50 years shows.

The findings, from over 22,000 participants in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), were published online February 18 in Diabetes Care by Barbara H. Bardenheier, PhD, and colleagues, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Diabetes Translation.

“We were surprised, because we have traditionally thought of diabetes as preceding disability, rather than the other way around. Controlling for mediators did not affect estimates very much. This suggests that there might be other intrinsic aspects of functional decline and disability that affect diabetes risk. If so, it is something that is currently poorly understood,”  said Dr. Bardenheier.

“We think that long-lasting exercise programs — including muscle-strengthening exercises and walking, as well as programs to maintain a healthy weight — may help maintain physical function and at the same time reduce diabetes,” she added.