Frequent breaks to stretch and stand may lower the risk of type 2 diabetes for desk workers, couch potatoes and other people who sit for long amounts of time.

Workers who took regular short breaks to do some light activity for an average of only five minutes benefited with lower blood sugar and triglyceride levels, as well as lower body weight and smaller waist size.

The short breaks don’t replace the recommended 30 minutes total of brisk activity every day, but the study suggests that avoiding sitting for long periods of time may help protect against diabetes.

Source: Diabetes Care, April 2008