India residents build park, exercise more to reduce diabetes risk

India residents build park, exercise more to reduce diabetes risk

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After the Chennai Urban Population Study showed that 12 percent of residents of a community in western Chennai, India had diabetes and an equal number were pre-diabetic, researchers at the Fogarty-supported Madras Diabetes Research Foundation advised residents to increase their physical activity. (See the related story, Confronting South Asia's diabetes epidemic .)

With no suitable place to exercise, the residents conducted a fund-raising drive and built a park with a walking lane and a playground. A follow-up study showed a decrease in the incidence of diabetes.