People With Type 2 Diabetes May Benefit From Afternoon Exercise, Study Shows | Cnn

Cnn

People with type 2 diabetes should exercise in the afternoon instead of the morning to manage their blood sugar, according to a new study.

In this study, we showed that adults with type 2 diabetes had the greatest improvement in glucose control when they were most active in the afternoon, co-corresponding author Dr. Jingyi Qian, of the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders of Massachusetts Brigham and Women\’s Hospital, reads a note.

\”We know physical activity is beneficial, but what our study adds is a new understanding that the timing of activity can also be important,\” Qian added.

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A team of researchers at the Brigham and Joslin Diabetes Center studied data from more than 2,400 overweight people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who wore a waist accelerometer recording device, something that measures vibration or acceleration. of movement to measure their physical activity.

After looking at data from the first year of the study, the researchers found that those who engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity in the afternoon had the greatest reduction in blood glucose levels.

According to the Harvard School of Public Health, examples of moderate activity include brisk walking, mowing the lawn with a lawn mower, and playing badminton recreationally, while vigorous activity includes hiking, a brisk jog, a game of basketball or soccer, or ride a bike at 14-16 miles per hour.

You can tell if you\’re exercising at a moderate aerobic level if you\’re able to talk but not sing your favorite song, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Looking at data from the fourth year of the study, the team found that those who exercised in the afternoon maintained a reduction in blood glucose levels and were more likely to be able to stop taking anti-diabetic drugs.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes and occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn\’t make enough insulin, according to the World Health Organization.

Primarily found in adults, it is associated with older age, obesity, family history, physical inactivity, and race/ethnicity.

People with diabetes are at risk for complications including nerve damage, vision and hearing problems, kidney disease, heart disease and premature death.

The study authors note that the observational study has limitations, as it did not measure sleep or diet.

Timing appears to matter, said corresponding author Dr. Roeland Middelbeek, assistant investigator at the Joslin Diabetes Center. Moving forward, we may have more data and experimental evidence for patients to provide more personalized recommendations.

Dr Lucy Chambers, Head of Research Communications at Diabetes UK, said of the study: Keeping physically active can help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels and reduce their risk of developing serious diabetes-related complications. diabetes such as heart disease and kidney failure, as well as improve their overall well-being.

Chambers, who was not involved in the study, stressed the need for people to exercise where they can.

This new research found that regular moderate to vigorous physical activity in the morning, noon, afternoon, or evening was associated with lower average blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Afternoon exercise is been linked to greater benefits, but the reasons for this are unclear, and current evidence on optimal times for exercise is conflicting.

If you live with type 2 diabetes, the most important thing is to find exercise you enjoy and can incorporate into your routine long-term, whether it\’s before work, during your lunch break or in the evening, she added.

The team\’s findings were published in the journal Diabetes Care.