I'll be the first to admit it; staying motivated to exercise isn't easy. We all know the benefits of exercise, so why don't we do more of it?

We already know exercise lowers blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol, helps with stress, and strengthens our heart and muscles. What you might not know, however, is that exercise can help you prevent type 2 diabetes.

Research has shown that a combination of healthy eating and regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58 percent. Does that make exercise a bit more attractive to you?

Let's define what we mean by exercise. It's simply planned physical activity. A long-term goal to strive for is 30 to 45 minutes a day for at least 5 days a week. There's just one short-term exercise goal: Do anything more than you're doing now—as in, something is better than nothing. Start slowly with even a 5-minute walk and in 2 weeks work up to a 10-minute walk.

Exercise does not mean an expensive gym membership. It just means getting yourself moving. Walking is one of the easiest exercises we can do. If you want to measure how far you walk each day, try using a pedometer, a small device that clips onto your belt and counts your steps. About 2,000 steps equal one mile. Check out the American Diabetes Association's ClubPed and track your pedometer progress.

Exercise can prevent type 2 diabetes. What's stopping you?