A study finding reported that among middle-aged and older men with type 2 diabetes, exercise capacity is a strong predictor of death from any cause over a 7-year period. Dr. Peter Kokkinos from the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, D.C., and team reported that their study finds an association between increased exercise capacity and lower risk of all-cause mortality, and suggests that this association may be more pronounced in Caucasians than in African Americans. Between 1986 and 2007, 1703 African American men and 1445 Caucasian men with type 2 diabetes completed a maximal exercise test, after which they were placed into one of three fitness categories based on peak exercise capacity (METs) achieved. The low-fit group achieved 5 METs or lower, the moderate-fit group achieved 5.1 to 7.9 METs, and the high-fit group achieved 8 METs or higher. Among African Americans, there were 230 deaths (46.4%) in the low-fit group, 224 (26.7%) in the moderate-fit group, and 55 (14.9%) in the high-fit group. Among Caucasians, there were 164 deaths (37.4%) in the low-fit group, 115 (18.8%) in the moderate-fit group, and 35 (8.9%) in the high-fit category. Compared with subjects in the low-fit category, the mortality risk reduction for those in the moderate-fit category was 43% for Caucasians and 34% for African Americans. In the high-fit category, the mortality risk was lowered by 67% (an additional 24% reduction) in Caucasians and only by 46% (an additional 12% reduction) in African Americans. On an important note the researchers said, that their cohort consists of Caucasian and African American veterans who mostly represent relatively low socioeconomic strata, whereas most information on the benefit of fitness on mortality in diabetics has been derived from more privileged populations. Thus their findings support the notion that higher exercise capacity is associated with lower all-cause mortality in men with type 2 diabetes, independent of socioeconomic status.