[Originally published: Sept. 08, 2022. Updated: Oct. 30, 2023.]
Most adults know that they should ideally exercise about 30 minutes a day, five days a week, but this is especially important for people with diabetes.
“Overall, exercise is very beneficial for blood sugar control,” says Dr. Janelle Dua, a primary care physician at Yale Medicine. Studies have shown that following an exercise program for just 8 weeks can lower blood sugar levels to levels comparable to diabetes medications.
Blood sugar control is also important for people with diabetes, a common condition in which the body either cannot produce insulin or does not use it properly. Insulin is a hormone that helps our body’s cells absorb glucose (sugar) from the blood and use it for energy.
Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to many serious health problems over time, so people with diabetes should keep their blood sugar levels within a healthy range, one that is neither too low nor too high. is important. And exercise is a good way to achieve that goal.
In addition to moderate-to-high-intensity aerobic exercise (such as brisk walking, jogging, swimming, and cycling) that significantly increases your heart rate, strength training (such as bodyweight training, free weights, and gym machines) is also important. she added.
“The more muscle you have, the better your blood sugar control will be because your muscles can take blood sugar from your blood and use it to create energy,” says Dr. Dua.
In this video, Yale Medicine experts discuss the benefits of exercise for people with diabetes.
For more diabetes-related articles and videos, visit the Yale Medicine Diabetes Content Center.
