Exercise is a powerful tool in managing diabetes. Whether you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, physical activity can help regulate blood sugar levels, improve insulin sensitivity, and enhance overall health. In this blog, we'll delve into the importance of exercise for diabetes & discuss the best time for workouts

What are the Benefits of Exercise in Diabetes?

Exercise offers multiple benefits for individuals with diabetes: 

1. Blood Sugar Control: Engaging in physical activity enhances glucose uptake by muscles, effectively lowering blood sugar levels and reducing the reliance on insulin.
2. Enhanced Insulin Sensitivity: Regular exercise improves how cells respond to insulin, facilitating better regulation of blood glucose levels and potentially reducing the need for medication.
3. Weight Management: Exercise, a critical aspect of diabetes management, is a cornerstone for maintaining a healthy weight as excess weight can increase insulin resistance.
4. Heart Health: While diabetes elevates the risk of cardiovascular issues, exercise helps strengthen the heart, improve circulation and lower the risk of heart disease.
5. Stress Reduction: Managing diabetes-related stress is vital. Exercise serves as a potent stress reliever thereby promoting mental well-being alongside physical health improvements.

When to Exercise

Timing is important when it comes to exercise and diabetes management. Here are some 

considerations:

Morning Workouts

• For individuals with Type 2 diabetes, engaging in physical activity in the morning on an empty stomach is not advisable. This timing triggers a heightened release of the glucose-elevating hormone glucagon, increasing insulin resistance and resulting in an increase in blood glucose levels. To avoid this, it is advisable to consume a small meal before morning exercise.
• For those managing Type 1 diabetes, morning exercise before breakfast reduces the chances of low blood sugar later in the day. 

Afternoon Workouts

• Afternoon exercise after having lunch at noon can make people with Type 1 diabetes more likely to experience low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) later in the day. Hence, it is recommended to exercise in the morning. 
• People with Type 2 diabetes can benefit from doing high-intensity interval training around three hours post-lunch. It can help lower their blood sugar levels effectively.

Evening Workouts

• Resistance exercise performed both before and after dinner contributes to a reduction in post-meal blood glucose levels for individuals with Type 2 diabetes. Evening resistance exercise can also decrease triglyceride levels, thereby lowering cardiovascular risks.
• For individuals with Type 1 diabetes, exercising in the late evening after dinner may increase the risk of low blood sugar levels overnight. However, this risk can be minimised by lowering the intake of their evening insulin. 

Conclusion

Exercise is an important pillar of diabetes management. It offers numerous physical and mental health benefits while helping regulate blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity. Finding the right time for exercise and consulting with health care professionals to get a personalised plan can go a long way in diabetes management.

You can also try the Apollo 24|7 Diabetes Self-Management Tool to log your sugar values, track patterns, know all about food nutrition and more.

Consult Apollo's Expert Diabetologists