Good news for all premiership goalkeepers – a recent study has indicated that people with fast reactions are likely to live longer than those less rapid. In fact, with evidence suggesting that those with slow reactions were 2.6 times more likely to suffer a premature death, the only risk factor that is greater to your health is smoking.

The findings point to a relationship between reaction times and intelligence – the faster you are the more intelligent you are so it would seem. This then leads to those with higher intelligence enjoying healthier lifestyles including better diets and more exercise.

To the layman it may seem a bit of a dubious chain of evidence. Though as I have the reactions of a drunken slug I would say that.

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A study of 650 people in South West England found that 36% of people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were put on medication too early. The findings, announced to a Diabetes UK conference, found that many patients who are diagnosed are put on diabetes medication within 1 month of diagnosis. This despite guidelines recommending that initial treatment should focus on lifestyle change, including healthier eating and increased exercise.

Type 2 diabetes occurrence has soared over recent years as the population continue to get more overweight. While medication undoubtedly has its place in the treatment of diabetes, there are major concerns that too easily it becomes a first port of call – an easy option! Guidelines suggest that more focus should be made on the impact of lifestyle choices in causing diabetes, ensuring patients understand the importance of improving diet and exercising more often.

Simon O’Neill of Diabetes UK backs this up by saying:

“A healthy, balanced diet and doing physical activity should always be the foundation of good diabetes management.

“Type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition – the longer a person has diabetes, the more likely they are to need tablets, and eventually insulin.”

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