Why Exercise is Important for the Diabetic

Exercise is important for the diabetic because exercise helps to restore normal glucose metabolism by decreasing body fat.  The American Diabetes Association recommends that anyone who has diabetes should have a medical exam to find out if there are any risks for coronary artery disease and to make sure that blood glucose control is o.k. before starting any kind of exercise program.

There are two kinds of exercise that will help to prevent or manage diabetes.  A study published in the journal of BMC Endocrine Disorders showed that high intensity interval training (HIT) improved insulin sensitivity in 16 men in their early 20’s.  The high intensity interval training consisted of 4-6 thirty second sprints on a exercise bike.  The men rested 4 minutes between each interval.  An oral glucose test was given before and after the exercise and it showed that the blood sugar and blood insulin levels of the men were reduced by 12%, 37% and 26%.

High Intensity interval training reduces blood sugar and blood insulin levels because during the intervals, the body goes into anaerobic mode and uses glycogen (which converts to glucose).  Glycogen is stored in the muscles and during high intensity interval training muscle fibers must replenish carbohydrate stores, using up the glycogen.

Another kind of exercise that helps to prevent diabetes is weight lifting.  Weight lifting helps to reduce blood glucose by using it from the blood and muscle during exercise.  When lifting weights, the main fuel used is glucose that is stored as muscle glucose. Building extra muscle also allows a larger storage area for muscle glucose. Weight lifting essentially improves the body’s ability to process glucose, which is important in managing type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes can be serious if it is not managed correctly.  Exercise can be an important part of that management, under a doctor’s supervision.  The benefits of exercise are worth the investment.