Managing high sugar levels can be challenging when relying only on medications, meal plans, and counting carbs. More often than not, many people forget that integrating physical activity into their daily routines can help.
Yup, you read it right! Let’s see how exercise can help you lower the blood sugar levels.
What Causes High Sugar Levels?
Elevated blood sugar levels are a result of either less insulin production by the body or more resistance to it.
Insulin is the hormone that determines how well you are managing your sugar levels. Insulin signals the cells to take glucose from the blood, therefore lowering the glucose levels in the blood. The body’s failure to respond to these insulin signals result in spikes in your sugar levels. Over time, these high sugar levels can result in insulin resistance and eventually prediabetes and diabetes.
Guess what, whether it is the less production of insulin by your body or the resistance to it, the exercise can help.
Exercise and Sugar
When you exercise, your muscles use blood glucose for energy, regardless of how much insulin is present in the blood. So, it doesn’t matter if you have less insulin or high resistance, as long you exercise, your muscles are using the glucose from the blood.
Moreover, physical activity also improves insulin resistance, making glucose uptake from the blood to the cells more efficient.
What is the result then? A lower amount of glucose in the blood!
Which Type of Exercise Can Help?
When we say physical activity, we don’t strictly mean going to the gym, performing strenuous exercises and lifting those heavy loads. In fact, go moderate. How about a 30-minute brisk walk each day, maybe five times a week? Or do a vigorous jog, of 20 minutes maybe, 3-4 days/week. Exercising so that you breathe a little harder and your heart beats a little faster is good enough.
Engaging in a regular moderate amount of exercise can do wonders. It not only interrupts the humdrum of life but also benefits blood sugar levels and weight loss.
References
Diabetes CO UK. 2019. Insulin
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/body/insulin.html
American Diabetes Association. Blood Sugar and Exercise
https://www.diabetes.org/fitness/get-and-stay-fit/getting-started-safely/blood-glucose-and-exercise
Diabetes Care. 2018. Introduction: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2018
https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/41/Supplement_1/S1
National Institute of Health. Diabetes Diet, Eating, & Physical Activity
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/diet-eating-physical-activity
Rich Farina, M.S. is a Metabolic Health and Conditioning Specialist with over 30 years of experience helping thousands of individuals lose weight, rebuild their metabolisms, and improve their health in his Metabolic Testing & Weight Loss Centers.
He holds both Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Exercise Physiology and Public Health respectively and is a passionate advocate of using proven, scientific principles in his approach to exercise and nutrition.
He is a contributing author, professional speaker, and advisor on topics that include weight loss, human performance, and medical fitness.
He continues his deep-seated passion to help people improve their health and longevity through his own line of premium, all-natural nutritional supplements called Truthentics™. The Truthentics™ brand of nutritional supplements is specifically designed to help people compensate for nutritional deficiencies and bring their bodies back into balance.
