What are the most important things the majority of people with type 2 diabetes can do to maintain proper blood glucose (sugar) levels and promote good health? Lose weight? Very helpful! Make good food choices? Definitely! Check blood sugar regularly? Good idea! And the fourth … hmm… ah… let’s see… Maybe get some exercise? Yes, absolutely essential!,

Too often we think of ‘getting some exercise’ as simply a good idea, something to fit in if we have time, something that might pay dividends 20 or 30 years from now. But according to endocrinologists, getting some exercise can have important benefits in the here and now for everyone, especially people with diabetes. Making physical activity a part of each day is a critical component of successful diabetes management, and that’s not just a matter of opinion. It’s a physiological fact!

Glucose fuels the body
Every time we eat, insulin enters the bloodstream in response to glucose that’s released by the digestive system. The insulin then races to the many cells throughout the body and “unlocks” them so that glucose can enter and provide energy. If, as is the case with type 2 diabetes, the body’s production and utilization of insulin are impaired, glucose accumulates in the blood. There is a wide range of medications to treat this situation, but the body is also equipped to improve things … with a little help.

Muscles, like other parts of the body, use glucose for energy. The more muscles work, the more energy they need. To meet this increased need for energy, the body taps into the glucose supply in the blood, fueling the muscles while simultaneously reducing the blood glucose level. This is a good thing, because it can bring blood glucose levels closer to normal. Exercise also increases insulin “sensitivity,” which means that insulin can more easily unlock the cells to let glucose in. The more glucose in the cells, the less glucose in the blood. Regular exercise is essential – equal to diet – in the proper management of diabetes.