For those who have diabetes, along with any other disease, the benefits from exercise are immense. The many benefits of exercise include weight control, lowering blood pressure, lowering harmful LDL cholesterol, strengthen bones and muscles, reducing anxiety, and improving your general well-being. Specifically for those with diabetes, the benefits include lowering blood glucose levels, boosting your body’s sensitivity to insulin, and countering insulin resistance.
Many studies have found that all forms of exercise either aerobic, resistance, or doing both were equally effective at lowering HbA1c values. Resistance training and aerobic exercise have shown to have helped to lower insulin resistance in previously sedentary adults with abdominal obesity who were at risk for diabetes.
Another very interesting finding was people with diabetes who walked at least two hours a week were less likely to die of heart disease than those who were sedentary. Those who exercised 3 to 4 hours a week cut their risk even more.
The best time to exercise is 1 to 3 hours after eating because your blood sugar level is likely to be higher. If you are using insulin, be sure to test your blood sugar before exercising.