Among people with type 2 diabetes, the risk of suffering heart-related complications is directly related to how often they exercise and for how long, a new study has shown.

It is already well established that people with type 2 diabetes are significantly more likely to develop heart disease or suffer a stroke than people without the condition.

It is also well established that exercise can reduce the risk of heart disease and heart-related deaths.

Swedish scientists decided to look into this further. They followed the progress of over 15,000 people with an average age of 60. Almost 7,000 of the participants undertook low levels of activity, while the remainder undertook high levels of activity. All were monitored for five years or until they suffered a heart-related event or death.

Low level activity was defined as exercising for 30 minutes never, once or twice a week. High level activity was defined as exercising for 30 minutes three or more times a week.

The study found that those who only undertook low levels of activity had a 25% increased risk of suffering some sort of heart-related event compared to those who undertook high levels of activity.

They also had a 70% increased risk of dying from a heart-related event.

The results stood even when other factors were taken into account, such as age, smoking and how long they had diabetes.

"The message from this study is clear. Avoid a sedentary lifestyle. Engage in physical activity. Alongside diet, these are the cornerstone of type 2 diabetes treatment. If you are presently on a low level of physical activity, do more," commented the study's first author, Dr Björn Zethelius, of the University of Uppsala.

He added that increased physical activity among people with type 2 diabetes could have important public health implications as a result of the increasing prevalence of the disease.

Details of these findings are published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.

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