A simple to implement and low-cost supervised walking programme in highly motivated individuals with or at risk for type 2 diabetes: An observational study with a pre-post design

This observational study with a pre-post design, conducted in two Dutch primary healthcare centres, aimed to evaluate the effect of a supervised walking programme in highly motivated individuals with or at risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Those able and willing to walk at least 6 km, were invited for a 28-week walking programme (February to August 2017), in which participants walked in groups, once weekly under supervision of volunteer healthcare professionals. Changes in bodyweight, BMI, waist circumference, HbA1c, blood pressure, well-being, health status and patient activation were analysed using paired t-tests and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Fifty-six people were included (30 T2DM; 26 at risk), of whom 60.7% were female. Mean age was 60.6 years, median BMI 30.8 kg/m² and mean systolic blood pressure 146.9 mm Hg. Participants with T2DM had median HbA1c of 50.0 mmol/mol. Post-challenge, BMI had decreased to 29.7 kg/m², and waist circumference decreased 3.4 cm (95% CI 2.1–4.8), both p < 0.01. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly (mean difference 6.5 mm Hg (95% CI 1.6–11.3, p = 0.01) and 3.5 mm Hg (95% CI 1.0–6.0, p < 0.01), respectively). Participants with HbA1c >53 mmol/mol at baseline (n = 8), had median decrease in HbA1c of 6.5 mmol/mol (p = 0.03). Well-being, but not health status and patient activation, improved significantly. In conclusion, in highly motivated individuals with or at risk for T2DM, this simple to implement and low-cost, but intensive, volunteer-based supervised walking programme is favourable, and therefore, can be seen as an option for clinical programs to implement to support highly motivated patients.