35 million Americans have type 2 diabetes, and for a long time, doctors have said that exercise is a helpful way to manage blood sugar. However, new research has delved into which exercises best impact blood sugar levels. The result? Yoga and walking.
The study, which was published in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science, looked at 20 adults with type 2 diabetes. The participants were divided into four different exercise groups: those who did yoga, those who walked, those who did both yoga and walking, and a control group, who weren’t asked to change anything. All of the participants took an oral medication to lower their blood sugar. People who took insulin were excluded from the study.
The participants completed their assigned activities over three months. Researchers tracked their fasting blood sugar, blood sugar levels after food, quality of life, and HbA1c — a measure of average blood sugar levels.
The combination group also had the “most substantial improvements” in blood sugar management, the researchers concluded. They also noticed an improvement in the participant’s quality of life.
Of course, this was a small pilot study, so to draw concrete conclusions, a larger study is needed. That said, previous research has linked both yoga and walking to lower blood sugar levels, and whether you have type 2 diabetes or not, exercise is a great way to manage your blood sugar.
It goes without saying that movement is not a replacement for those who need medication, and if you do have diabetes, you should always check in with your doctor before trying something new.
Maintaining a healthy weight, eating a healthy, balanced diet, and reducing stress can all help with blood sugar management.
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