Afternoon exercises help improve blood sugar control
A study published in the journal Diabetes Care showed that exercising in the afternoon significantly improves blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes.
Dr. Roeland J.W. del Midbeek, a doctor at the Joslin Diabetes Center (USA) and co-author of the study, said: Afternoon users have the strongest reduction in hemoglobin A1C, an average glycemic index for three months. They also need less medication, showing the positive effects of exercise at this time of day".
According to Mr.del Midbeek, the human body tends to be less sensitive to insulin later in the day. Therefore, exercising in the afternoon helps improve the body's response to insulin, thereby stabilizing blood sugar more effectively.
Light activities after eating also bring benefits
Not only strong exercises, gentle activities after meals are also effective. A study published in the journal Nutrients showed that just 10 minutes of light exercise after meals such as slow walking or stretching helped people with type 2 diabetes significantly lower blood sugar compared to sitting on the floor.
I still encourage people to exercise when it is suitable for their lifestyle, at the most favorable time. However, exercising in the afternoon after meals can bring some added benefits to blood sugar control," Dr. Middelbeek shared.
Dr. Jason Ng, clinical associate professor of hormonology and metabolism at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (USA), emphasizes that while the afternoon can be more optimal, it is important to maintain regular exercise, regardless of the time of day. In fact, regular exercise, whether morning or afternoon, helps the body use insulin effectively and improve metabolic health, he said.
For people with diabetes, choosing the time to exercise in the afternoon can help increase the effectiveness of blood sugar control. However, the most important thing is to maintain a regular exercise routine, combined with a reasonable diet to stabilize long-term health.
