EASY Exercise Hack Reigns in Blood Sugar
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted June 24, 2023
If you battle blood sugar problems, it won’t be a surprise when I tell you exercise is good for your health.
After all, physical activity is good for EVERYONE.
And it’s not even a shocker that moving more could help you control diabetes.
But new research uncovered an exercise hack that could help you get even MORE out of your workouts no matter the exercise.
So, regardless of whether you take a brisk walk, do chair yoga, swim laps, or something else, this simple trick can help you truly tame your blood sugar.
I emphasize the importance of exercise all the time here in Living Well Daily.
But recent research published in the journal Diabetes Care revealed a timing trick that can help you make the MOST out of that physical activity.
It turns out that exercising in the AFTERNOON is better for blood sugar.
And that’s vital because keeping your blood sugar in check is one of the most important things you can do for your health.
You see, too much sugar in your blood leads to an increase in inflammation and oxidative damage.
And with those rising glucose levels also comes a rise in risk for heart disease, eye disease, kidney disease, Alzheimer’s, and even certain cancers.
But according to the new study, exercising in the afternoon can give you an extra advantage against elevated blood sugar.
To figure this out, the researchers took a deeper dive into the results from the earlier “Look AHEAD” study. They looked at the data from over 2,400 volunteers with type 2 diabetes.
The volunteers who were the most active in the afternoon were the ones who had better blood sugar control. In fact, the afternoon exercisers were significantly more likely to be able to stop using their glucose-lowering medications when compared to the morning group.
This is TERRIFIC news for folks who already prefer to exercise in the afternoon. But if you’re like me and exercise in the morning because it’s the only time you can squeeze it into your day, don’t worry.
If you’re an AM exerciser, look for little opportunities to get your heart rate up in the afternoons. It can be quickly walking up a flight of stairs. Doing a few jumping jacks. Or dancing around the dining room table without stopping for one whole song.
A few minutes a day is all you need to reap those extra blood-sugar-balancing rewards.
P.S. WHEN you choose to exercise isn’t the only timing trick you can use to fight off diabetes. In fact, you could SLASH your risk simply by changing WHEN you eat (NOT how much). CLICK HERE for the details.
Source:
“Association of Timing of Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity With Changes in Glycemic Control Over 4 Years in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes From the Look AHEAD Trial,” Diabetes Care, dc222413, doi.org/10.2337/dc22-2413
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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