Lifestyle modifications are important pieces of the puzzle when considering the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, national, and international guidelines have tended to place the emphasis on diabetes medicine(s). For the first time, the latest American Diabetes Association/European Association for The Study of Diabetes (ADA/EASD) consensus guidelines on the management of hyperglycaemia have broken with tradition by incorporating a growing body of evidence linking health outcomes associated with type 2 diabetes to the movement behaviour composition over the whole, 24-hr day.
In this context, a 24-hr day comprises a sequence of movement behaviours distributed on a continuum ranging from limited/no movement to high-intensity activities. The five S’s (sleep, sitting, stepping, sweating, and strengthening) encapsulate these physical behaviours and their inclusion represents an important milestone in bridging the gap between current knowledge around 24-hr behaviours and the management of diabetes. These physical behaviours are all linked and have the potential to impact glycaemic control and overall health.