Researchers found that offering seniors with diabetes the opportunity to participate in a subsidized community-based exercise program may help lower health care costs.

The researchers analyzed 163 seniors with diabetes who participated in a community-based fitness program that was fully subsidized by the HMO. For comparison, the study also included 364 seniors who did not participate in the fitness program. After 12 months, the researchers found that total health care costs did not differ among the two groups of seniors. However, among those in the HMO subsidized exercise group, those who attended more exercises classes per week than the rest of the group had health care costs roughly 41% less than the average of the group.

The study found that health care costs can be greatly reduced among a previously sedentary older adult who engages in moderate physical activity three days a week or more. One in five Medicare recipients has diabetes. That's a pretty significant number. Diabetes-related health care costs account for about a third of total Medicare expenses. Exercise can reduce health care costs and increase physical functioning. Any amount of physical activity is beneficial for everyone and it is even more so for people with diabetes, regardless of the effects on health care costs. What's the going rate for well-being these days, anyway?