It’s important for people with diabetes to exercise regularly, as this helps them manage their blood sugar levels. But you don’t have time to exercise in the mornings? Don’t worry, a recent study suggests that exercising in the evening can help lower your blood sugar levels. Read on to find out more about this study.
Evening exercise is best for lowering blood sugar in overweight and obese adults
A recent study found that evening exercise can help lower blood sugar levels. The study, published in the journal Obesity, found that moderate to vigorous exercise in the evening was effective in lowering daily blood sugar levels in sedentary adults who were overweight or obese.
“Our findings highlight the importance of the field of precision exercise prescription,” said Jonathan R. Ruiz, professor of physical activity and health at the Department of Physical Education at the University of Granada in Spain.
“In clinical practice, certified sports and health professionals should consider the optimal timing of the day to enhance the effectiveness of the exercise and physical activity programs they prescribe.”
Diabetes That is, you Hyperglycemia High blood sugar levels worsen the symptoms of diabetes. This happens because the body does not produce enough insulin or does not use the insulin produced efficiently. Therefore, the glucose that you ingest is not processed. Elevated blood sugar levels over a long period of time can damage organs and lead to various health problems. Therefore, it is important to spot the early signs of the disease and get treated to prevent serious health problems.
For people with diabetes, it’s important to exercise regularly, as this helps manage blood sugar levels. But you don’t have time to exercise in the morning? Don’t worry, new research shows that exercising in the evening can help lower blood sugar levels.
In the study, researchers looked at a total of 186 adults who exercised from 6am to noon, noon to 6pm, or 6pm to late night for 14 days. Participants had a BMI of 32.9 kg/m2, were overweight or obese, and their average age was 46 years.
Data for this study were collected from baseline examinations of a multicenter randomized controlled trial conducted in Granada and Pamplona, Spain. The aim of this study was to understand the efficacy and feasibility of time-restricted feeding on visceral adipose tissue, body composition, and cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight and obese adults.
Results showed that accumulating 50% or more of moderate-to-vigorous exercise at night was associated with lower daytime, nighttime, and overall blood glucose levels compared to when inactive. This association was found to be stronger in participants with impaired blood glucose regulation and similar in both men and women.
An earlier study published in the journal Diabetes Care, based on data from 30,000 people followed for about eight years, also suggested that evening exercise may have additional health benefits for obesity.
Studies have shown that moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise between 6pm and late at night reduces the risk of premature death and death from cardiovascular disease.