Post Time: 2025-09-01
Exercise, Blood Sugar, and You: Separating Fact from Fiction
Blood sugar tests are a crucial tool for managing blood glucose levels. However, many people struggle to understand how their activity levels impact these readings. When it comes to exercise and blood sugar control, the relationship is complex and influenced by various factors.
The Impact of Physical Activity on Blood Sugar Levels Regular physical activity can have both positive and negative effects on blood sugar levels depending on several variables such as intensity, duration, and frequency. Research suggests that engaging in moderate-intensity aerobic exercises like brisk walking or cycling for at least 150 minutes per week can significantly improve insulin sensitivity (1). This improvement allows the body to more effectively utilize insulin and maintain healthy blood glucose levels.
Conversely, high-intensity exercise sessions may lead to short-term fluctuations in blood sugar. A study found that performing a single bout of intense resistance training led to significant post-exercise increases in both fasting and 2-hour postprandial (after meal) plasma glucose concentrations among young adults with normal glucose tolerance (2).
Understanding the Role of Insulin Resistance Insulin resistance, often associated with obesity and physical inactivity, is a critical factor that impacts blood sugar regulation. As body fat stores increase so does insulin resistance making it more difficult for cells to take up glucose from the bloodstream leading elevated fasting blood sugar levels.
While regular exercise has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity even mild increases in BMI have an inverse relationship with this improvement suggesting individuals who need it most are less likely experience benefits without intervention.
This short animation in Gujarati is useful value of blood sugar for people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and their family and friends. And anyone else who is 8.4 blood sugar high after eating wants to understand the condition. See links to more diabetes information in Gujarati on our website. As well as your medical team, we’re here at Diabetes UK to support you. Our helpline is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm. If you’re in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, call 0345 123 fasting blood sugar 126 2399. Or if you’re in Scotland, call 0141 212 8710. You can also email us at [email protected].![What is type 1 diabetes? [Spoken in Gujarati]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dD0OQnBOJRk/sddefault.jpg)